EDO STATE: Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the former governor of Edo State and current senator representing Edo North in the National Assembly, has reportedly instructed All Progressive Congress, APC and his foot soldiers in the Edo North senatorial district to withdraw their support from Senator Monday Okpebholo ahead of the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.
Sources close to the aggrieved Oshiomhole alleged that the former national chairman of the ruling APC is deeply troubled by what he perceives as his marginalization within the party.
It is understood that Oshiomhole feels sidelined by Monday Okpebholo’s alignment with the impeached Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu and other party leaders in Abuja, likes Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio who was reported to have vowed to end the former Labour leader’s political dominance and replace him with Shaibu.
This development, according to our sources has led to a significant rift between him and the APC governorship candidate.
A source close to Oshiomhole who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity said, “Senator Okpebholo seems to have dumped Oshiomhole and is now working with the impeached Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu and Oshiomhole is aware of this because he’s not a baby politician.
This has infuriated the senator, leading him to call off his support for the APC governorship candidate.”
The source further revealed that Oshiomhole has criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio for allegedly orchestrating the shift in political allegiance.
”He believes that Akpabio’s influence has persuaded Okpebholo to work closely with Shaibu, thus alienating him from the core APC campaign team in Edo state,” the source added.
Oshiomhole has reportedly conveyed to his associates that he can’t work with a governor who would be controlled from the Senate chambers.
”This internal conflict within the APC is already having some devastating implications for the party’s chances, as many notable leaders in the campaign council loyal to Oshiomhole and already putting up a lackadaisical attitude towards the campaign, our investigations have revealed.
Anyone who knows Oshomhole knows that he has always disassociated himself from Akpabio.
”Okpebholo’s decision to align with the Senate President will certainly lead to his downfall in this election as Oshiomhole has quietly ordered his foot soldiers to frustrate the APC candidate, the source concluded.