Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
Edo State, Nigeria
The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State is once again embroiled in a deep-seated crisis, marked by bitter power tussles and factional infighting. The long-awaited release of the APC campaign council list has ignited a firestorm of controversy, further highlighting the deep divisions within the party.
The primary source of the ongoing turmoil is the unremitting rivalry between Pastor Ize-Iyamu (POI) and Senator Adams Oshiomole. Acting state chairman Jaret Tenebe has thrown his full support behind POI, which allowed them to wrest the ticket away from Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Oshiomole’s preferred candidate, who was initially declared the winner.
An insider, who requested anonymity, disclosed that the delay in publishing the list was due to intense infighting among party leaders over who would compile the list and whose interests would be prioritized. This dispute has exacerbated the crisis between Comrade Adams Oshiomole and his former political protégé, Jaret Tenebe, who has now taken a rebellious stance.
On the morning of Wednesday, June 5th, in a unilateral move, Comrade Adams Oshiomole released the campaign council list from Abuja without informing Tenebe. This action infuriated Tenebe, who promptly ordered the Secretariat to release his own competing list. As a result, two conflicting APC campaign council lists are now circulating, reflecting the chaotic and divided state of the party.
The ongoing strife within the APC raises a critical question: how can a party that struggles to organize its own ranks be trusted to govern Edo State effectively? The internal discord casts serious doubts on the party’s ability to lead without plunging the state into further chaos.