The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained the agreement it struck with Governor Monday Okpebholo during the 2024 governorship election in the state

The spokesman of the Wike faction of the PDP in Edo State, Bob-Manuel Omobumhe Umoru, who gave the details of the said power sharing agreement, said that it was the reason the Edo PDP Legacy Group threw its weight behind Okpebholo’s candidacy against Asue Ighodalo, the original PDP gubernatorial candidate in the election.

Umoru explained that the Wike-backed PDP faction otherwise known as PDP Legacy Group supported Governor Okpebholo to victory in line with the agreement.

He added that it was in honour of the said agreement that Governor Okpebholo backed Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama against Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for the Edo South senatorial seat.

Both Ogbeide-Ihama and Pastor Ize-Iyamu are claiming victory of the APC primary.

Umoru, who spoke in Benin City, said the agreement was signed at the private office of former National Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Umar Ganduje

He said signatories to the agreement included Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, Governor Okpebholo, Ogbeide-Ihama and Secretary of Edo PDP, Hillary Itsu.

The Edo PDP factional spokesman said the agreement stipulated power sharing in the ratio of 70 to 30 percent.

He said members of the PDP Legacy Group were to be given political appointments and given some slots in elective positions to the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and one senatorial seat.

According to him, “When it is needed, I speak truth to power. Was there an agreement between PDP Legacy Group and Monday Okpebholo? Yes there was an agreement between Okpebholo and PDP Legacy Group.

“In the agreement, we agreed to share power on the basis of 70 to 30 percent. 70 for the APC and 30 for the Legacy Group. This agreement was written in the private office of former National Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Umar Ganduje.

“At the time the agreement was made, Ganduje was the National Chairman. I challenge all the signatories to make the document public for the world to see.

“We agreed in the document that elected offices will be shared. In the three senatorial districts, the Legacy Group will have a seat. It was not specify whether it will be Edo North, Edo Central or Edo South.

“I was privy to the agreement. This agreement was not honoured. On whether there was a clause in the agreement that Hon Ogbeide-Ihama be given certain position, the answer is no.

“Ogbeide-Ihama is going about telling the world that the agreement said heshould be given tbe Senate ticket. No clause in that agreement that particularly carried the name of Ogbeide-Ihama. There is no paragraph that carried the name of Ogbeide-Ihama that he should be given senatorial ticket.

“The only time his name appeared was in the signatory. Okpebholo and Jarret Tenebe signed on behalf of APC while Ogbeide-Ihama and Hillary Otsu signed on behalf of the PDP.

“That agreement never specified that Ogbeide-Ihama be given the Edo South ticket. Even if we decide on Edo South, it is the Legacy leaders that will decide who gets the ticket.

“The claim by Ogbeide-Ihama that the agreement stated he should be given Edo South ticket in 2027 is a fallacy,” Umoru emphasised.

The Edo APC State Chairman, Tenebe, who was named as part of the signatory to the said deal, did not pick calls to his cell phone when contacted.

But a close aide of Ogbeide-Ihama, who pleaded anonymity, said Umoru should be ignored and not given any relevance. (Nigerian Tribune)