Sharp divisions and allegations of greed and high-handedness have emerged within the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) less than 24 hours after the unveiling of its 524-member Campaign Council for the September 21 governorship election.
According to a reliable party source who spoke on condition of anonymity, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu (POI), a former governorship candidate, has vehemently opposed the list, denouncing it as an “insult” and accusing Senator Adams Oshiomhole of orchestrating it for personal gain.
The source, sympathetic to the Ize-Iyamu faction, revealed that the clergyman turned politician is aggrieved by what he perceives as Oshiomhole’s maneuver to control the campaign, particularly by allegedly favoring Monday Okpebholo over him.
Ize-Iyamu’s outrage was compounded by his placement as number 500 on the list, which he views as a deliberate attempt to sideline him within the party hierarchy.
Meanwhile, another significant party member, Victoria Oma Amu, has departed from the party citing “personal and family reasons,” further exacerbating the party’s internal challenges.
The party’s flagbearer, Monday Okpebholo, remains absent, contributing to a lack of confidence among members in his leadership abilities.
The escalating rift between Oshiomhole and Ize-Iyamu deepens the party’s internal divisions ahead of the forthcoming election, only four months away, making many see the party and its flagbearer as unserious.