All is not well within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. Crisis has crept into the fabric of the party as the dates for the party’s primary draw near. The crux of the crisis is the race to secure the party’s ticket for the National Assembly seats. To some APC chieftains, “It is a battle between core APC supporters and Governor Monday Okpebholo’s anointed aspirants.”

The Edo State All Progressives Congress is currently made up of different blocs battling to take control of the party. Some consider themselves aborigines. These are the ones who felt they laboured through thick and thin to ensure the survival of the party. Aspirants that fell under this group are demanding a reward for loyalty. Another bloc is those tagged nomadic APC members. This group is made up of those who have moved in and out of the Edo APC. They are in the party to seek the party’s ticket or to support their preferred aspirants. There is also the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legacy group inside the Edo APC. Members of this group did not officially defect to the APC. They are the Nyesom Wike-backed PDP faction led by Chief Dan Orbih.

Governor Monday Okpebholo holds the aces on who gets the APC ticket. He is said to have some preferred aspirants across the state. Many leaders in the state, especially the political appointees, have lined up with the Governor’s preferences. They are seen at political gatherings of the preferred aspirants. Those ticked to have been endorsed by Governor Okpebholo for the senatorial seats are Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North), Senator Joe Ikpea (Edo Central), and Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama (Edo South).

The alleged anointed aspirants for the House of Representatives are Hon Omosede Igbinedion (Ovia), Dr Paddy Iyamu (Oredo), Dr Washington Osifo (Uhunmwode/ Orhionmwon), Osaze Igbinovia (Ikpoba-Okha/Egor), Lucky Eseigbe (Esan West/Igueben/Esan Central), Odianosen Okojie (Esan South-East/Esan North-East), and Mr Blessing Agbomhere (Etsako). It is not clear yet who the Governor is supposedly supporting in Owan and Akoko-Edo federal constituencies.

Some APC members in the Edo State House of Assembly, who pleaded anonymity, said they decided not to purchase nomination and expression of interest forms, having been informed they were not among the favoured aspirants.

Sources in the Edo APC said Edo South Senatorial District is where the Governor has met a brick wall to convince Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Senator Neda Imasuen to step down their aspiration for Ogbeide-Ihama, who is from the Edo PDP legacy group. The snag on the lips of Ogbeide-Ihama supporters is “agreement is agreement”. It was gathered that the Edo APC, in its bid to win the 2024 governorship election, entered an agreement with the PDP legacy group. Part of the agreement was for Ogbeide-Ihama to secure the senatorial ticket of the party.

Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, stirred the hornet’s nest last month when he declared that the party would not give nomination to serial election losers. He went further to say that the person to have the ticket is already known, and he is not a Pastor. The comments by Tenebe were criticised by many APC leaders who said he referred to Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who lost the governorship election in 2016 and 2020. The Edo APC Media Diaspora Group, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Hon Eghosa Monday Ohuimumwen, accused Governor Okpebholo of using the Edo South seat to settle political debt owed to Nyesom Wike for supporting his electoral victory in the 2020 governorship election.

The group wondered why Edo South should become the centre of political manipulation, intimidation, and imposed decisions just to satisfy agreements made outside the will of APC members and the people of Edo State. It said Governor Okpebholo was under pressure and a political obligation to hand over the APC structure in Edo South to external interests, particularly to the PDP legacy group led by Chief Dan Orbih and Nyesom Wike. It further said its stance was not against personalities but against political conquest and imposition of any candidate by external forces that neither built the APC in Edo State nor represented the democratic wishes of party faithful.

According to the group, “Governor Okpebholo may be the leader of the party in Edo State, but leadership must not become dictatorship, intimidation, or surrender to outside political masters. His current actions reflect dangerous political indebtedness, power intoxication, and a willingness to mortgage the future of Edo APC for personal arrangements. It might have serious electoral consequences. This path threatens party unity and risks serious electoral consequences.

“We firmly reject the Imposition of Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama as APC senatorial candidate, the surrender of APC Edo South to PDP legacy interest and hijack of party structures by external forces.

“We also appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the National Leader of our great party, to step in before this ugly development escalates into a full-blown party crisis.”

Despite the apparent non-support of the governor, Pastor Ize-Iyamu has continued his consultation. He has met with APC leaders in the seven local government areas.

In a statement he issued earlier this week, Pastor Ize-Iyamu called on the leadership of the party to ensure integrity, transparency and impartiality in the conduct of the primaries. He warned against any form of candidate imposition and cautioned that party members must be allowed to decide freely without fear, coercion or intimidation.

He said, “If primaries are to be conducted, they must be transparent and fair. The imposition of candidates, whether direct or subtle, undermines party unity and erodes public trust.

“Directing appointees or stakeholders on whom to support is inconsistent with the democratic ideals upon which our party stands.

“We are confident that the leadership of our great party will do what is right. Let party members decide freely, without fear, coercion or intimidation.

“I have no intention of leaving the APC, now or ever, regardless of the circumstances. No disagreement, no provocation, and no temporary setback will drive me from a house I helped to build.”

Both Ogbeide-Ihama and Senator Imasuen have not relented in their pursuit of the APC ticket.

Senator Imasuen told Edo South APC leaders not to make the mistake of sending a newbie to the Senate, whereas other districts were returning their incumbent Senators.

“The Senate is the highest law-making body in the country. It is not a place for a starter. When a starter goes, he goes to learn. The period of learning is over. We are in a period where we have to have a ranking Senator.

“I am close to the grassroots. I have done things that affected their lives.”

Ogbeide-Ihama, on his part, described himself as the most experienced aspirant and has proven ability to win elections. He told Edo South APC leaders that there was nothing wrong for an external factor (Wike) to support his aspiration. He said the people should be happy that the external factor was supporting the best aspirant.

Governor Okpebholo has insisted that he reserved the right to support and endorse any aspirant he felt would represent the overall interest of the people.

Okpebholo, who spoke through his Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said he was not in the habit of imposing anyone on the people.

“His style of politics is that of inclusivity and not exclusion. He does not insist that his will must be done; instead, he deploys constructive engagement and collective bargaining in making his political decisions, and moral suasion is also part of his style. Disregard any attempt by anyone to blackmail him. We will not bow to blackmail. Everyone is free to exercise their right to free choice.”

It appears Governor Okpebholo would not back down on his support for Ogbeide-Ihama with a view to honouring the agreement he had with the PDP Legacy group. The battle for the APC ticket is now between core APC members and Okpebholo’s political appointees. Governor Okpebholo may have his way, but convincing Edo South voters would be another battle. (The Nation)