Edo APC chairman denies rift with Oshiomhole

Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Emperor Jarret Tenebe, has denied any rift with the former National Chairman of the party and senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole.

The Edo APC Chairman, who spoke with journalists in Benin City, the staye capital, on Sunday, insisted that there were “no cracks on the wall” within the party leadership in the state.

This was just as he maintained that Governor Monday Okpebholo remained the leader of the APC in the state while Oshiomhole “is the national leader”, adding that irrespective of the difference positions he and Oshiomhole pushed during the primary that threw up Governor Okpebholo as the candidate of the party for the September 2024 election, the party went into the election as one indivisible entity.

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Tenebe’s clarifications came on the heels of the speculation among the top hierarchy of the party in the state that he might not be returned as the substantive chairman in the party’s forthcoming convention on the grounds that he had fallen out with Oshiomhole.

The APC chairman said insinuations that his relationship with Oshiomhole could affect his chances of the remaining party chairman were “far from the truth.”

“The leader of the party in Edo State is the Governor, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpeholo. There have been insinuations that Senator Adams Oshiomhole and I are not working together, and that is very far from the truth. The only time we had a disagreement was during the primaries, when I insisted that the right thing must be done.”

He added that all differences had since been resolved. “After the primaries, we campaigned together, we won together, and we have continued to work together. There are absolutely no cracks on the wall,” he said.

Tenebe, who has been serving in an acting capacity, said he was confident of being confirmed as substantive chairman, stressing that the party would not “change a winning team.”

“We fought to ensure that Edo State has a good candidate and a good government, and we achieved that. Now, the responsibility of the party is to support the governor to succeed and to ensure that the dividends of democracy promised to the people are delivered. “

Tenebe also declared that the Edo APC was targeting 3.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, expressing confidence that the opposition in the state had “largely collapsed” into the ruling party.

Addressing complaints that some party loyalists had been sidelined after the election, Tenebe dismissed claims of exclusion, arguing that inclusive governance was necessary for development.

“I do not see anybody that has been shut out. Someone who campaigned against you yesterday but later sees reason and identifies with you should not be rejected. Throwing people away is not wise,” he said.

On preparations for the 2027 presidential election, the APC chairman said the party was working aggressively to mobilise voters within and outside the state.

“Edo State has about three million registered voters, many of whom are not currently living in the state. We are reaching out to Edo people across the country and putting logistics in place to bring them home to vote. We are serious about delivering 3.5 million votes for President Tinubu, and we can even surpass that.”

He further claimed that several opposition party structures were already defecting to the APC. “We have met with 16 PDP LGA chairmen, and Labour Party LGA chairmen are also coming in. If you look closely, the opposition has collapsed,” he said.

Responding to concerns that mass defections could weaken democracy, Tenebe said it was not the responsibility of the ruling party to sustain the opposition.

“It is the duty of the opposition to be formidable. The constitution guarantees freedom of association. If anyone wants to join APC, we will accept them,” he added.