His declaration has increased the number of contenders for the exalted office from Edo state to three. The incumbent chairman, Odigie Oyegun is also seeking a fresh mandate in spite of the withdrawal of support by a sizeable number of the APC governors.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja at the weekend, Dr. Ibrahim Emokpaire said the endorsement of Comrade Oshiomhole remained at the realm of speculation as he noted that President Buhari has assured the party faithful that he would not meddle in the process that would lead to the emergence of new national officers for the party.
Emokpaire who admitted that the ruling party is encountering intractable crises promised: “to work with genuine party leaders to ensure that discipline, peace were restored within the party hierarchy.”
In an apparent reference to the grip of the governors on the party structures, he declared that he was determined to ensure that voices of ordinary party faithful count in decision making in the APC.
“I recognise the fact about the curiosity of certain persons in their usual permutation about who a regular guy should be or not be but am sorry to disappoint them because my mind is made up by the audacity to dare shift paradigm and alter the political status quo this time around, to affirm my candidature.”
“My leadership will address the seemingly intractable problems that becloud the horizon of our progress which is indeed traceable to the skewed priorities of some greedy and corrupt politicians.
“The good news is that the problems are man-made and not insurmountable but can be corrected sooner than later on my assumption of the mantle of leadership.
“We are shifting away from money politics and President Muhammadu Buhari has already outlined what is needed. I will not be disturbed and distracted by the big names and moneybags that will be contested, as I will remain issue-based.”
and then