APC Primary: Edo Central and the Piecemeal of Deputy Governor – By Usiholo Matthew Ph.D.

The All Progressive Congress, APC, on the 17th February 2024, conducted its primary election, which was marred with irregularities. As was expected, several candidates emerged from the poorly hatched direct exercise across the state, which has been the party’s hallmark over the years. 

My interest is not so much what happened in that primary as it can be described as an internal affair of the party. Still, I must state categorically that if the story making the rounds on social media and the allegations that Hon. Odi Okojie, representing Esan North/Esan-south Federal Constituency, worked against the interest of Esan agenda and sold out his brother, Senator Monday Okpebholo,  and the overall interest of Esan people and most Edo state citizens for power to sift to his senatorial district and betrayed that much agitated Esan Agenda for a piecemeal offer of the deputy governor, I was more disappointed in the rookie parliamentarian, hearing these stories, real or imagined.

Real or imagined, because this fellow has a historical antecedent, I can recall that Odi Okojie’s inordinate ambition and desperation can be traced back to his times in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the 2016 gubernatorial election, where he recruited several social media influencers in the state to help him mount campaigns to be considered for the deputy governor position even when the campaigns were yet to gain traction.

This ambition was strangely seen in the political landscape in Edo State and Nigeria at large. The then-PDP gubernatorial candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, could discern Okojie’s desperate ambitions. He also prevailed against Odi by party stakeholders. It was on that basis Hon. John Yakubu was eventually selected.

In 2023, the PDP had an internal crisis, which was eventually ruled upon at the Supreme Court. The crisis weakened the PDP, and those who lost out, the then Legacy PDP members, played anti-party roles during the election, which made Okojie win the election from APC. So, he should know that he didn’t win the election based on his popularity. A benevolent spirit cracked someone whose kernel ought to be aware.

Unfortunately, Odi Okojie is not aware of this fact. He should go to all social media platforms and see that his betrayal is the talk of youths across boards in Edo State.

They have vowed that he has intentionally made himself a one-term member of the House of Representatives. He has lost the goodwill bestowed on him by the teaming youths of his constituency; he will be taught a political lesson for betraying his brother.

Without him, the Esan Agenda we are proud to associate with is alive and well. He cannot stop an idea whose time has come.

In September, the Edo State people will speak with one voice. They will jointly vote for the best candidate, Asue Ighodalo. The PDP ticket will represent fairness, credibility, justice and equity.