There is palpable disquiet in the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the September 21 governorship election, investigations have shown.
It has emerged that many chieftains of the party are disgruntled over the unmarketability of the candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. With their whispers of discontent arrogantly rebuffed by party leaders both in the state and Abuja, a groundswell of antiparty sentiment has replaced the grumblings in a show of defiance.
Many party members, frustrated with what they describe as a “leadership conspiracy,” have begun launching public attacks on the party or even left the party altogether. According to sources, the remaining days in June and July are likely to witness more defections and possibly more open rejection of Okpebholo, particularly by his Esan brothers and sisters.
“The situation in APC now is unbelievable. Everyone is just angry. The question is how did the party candidate manage to emerge? He is the worst of the candidates in the election. People did not know how he managed to emerge or how the leaders did it. Now people are finding it difficult to market him. Bad products are difficult to sell. And when they complain, the leaders will say ‘party is supreme.’ How can the party be supreme when you have Asue (Dr Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party) or Olu-Dee (Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party) to contest with?” an anonymous source revealed.
Many disgruntled party members have formed groups and caucuses, engaging in antiparty activities. “They are doing APC by day and fully supporting PDP or LP at night,” the source added. High-profile defections include figures such as Chief Inegbeniki, Chief Ghadaffi, Alhaji Isiwele, Dan Ogbegie, John Mayaki, Saint Moses, and Chris Osa, with more expected by July.
The source also alluded to near irreconcilable differences among top leaders of the party. “There is big resentment and animosity within the party leadership hierarchy. One leader is in Abuja, and the other is in Benin, and their followers are beefing with each other,” the source concluded.
As the September 21 election approaches, the internal strife within the Edo APC poses a significant challenge to the party’s cohesion and electoral prospects.
