Edo Speaker apologises to APC leaders over rift

The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Blessing Agbebaku, has tendered an apology to the leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owan West Local Government Area as part of the conditions set for his re-election bid.

However, the APC leadership in the locality insisted that although his apology was accepted, his bid for an automatic third-term return to the legislature was rejected. He was directed to join the other four aspirants to contest for the position at the party’s primary.

The apology was one of the conditions given to Agbebaku by Owan West leaders for him to align with the party’s leadership in the area, headed by Chief Lucky Ohimai, popularly called Tarex, as well as to be recognised as one of the aspirants seeking election to the House of Assembly.

The Speaker, who tendered the apology at an enlarged meeting of the APC in Owan West held at the residence of Chief Ohimai, said he was at the meeting to align and harmonise with the Owan West APC family led by Chief Ohimai.

He said past misunderstandings were fuelled by overzealous and unidentified supporters, and offered an open apology while pledging full cooperation.

According to him, “I have never, and will not, dispute his party leadership in Owan West. I am here to say whoever I wronged in the past, whether knowingly or unknowingly, I deeply apologise. I remain committed to working for the progress of our party, the APC, and the people.

“I want my brother, Tarex, to also know that I am in the race for re-election. I appeal to you all that we should use this opportunity judiciously for the benefit of everybody.”

Reacting to the Speaker’s request for support for his third-term bid to the House of Assembly, the gathering unanimously rejected his plea and asked him to join the queue of other aspirants who had also indicated interest.

The Chairman of Ward 11, Lewis Ekpenga, said, “Nobody in his right senses should contemplate giving his plea a thought. Hon. Agbebaku is not the only person in Owan West qualified to aspire for this position.

“And considering his antecedents before, during, and after the gubernatorial election, we will be doing the greatest injustice to our people if we throw him up as our candidate,” Ekpenga said.

Johnson Abolagba said the general consensus was for the governor to look in the direction of aspirants who laboured for his election in 2024.

“I think the governor, for the sake of stability and rewarding loyalty in the party, should look at aspirants who worked for his election. I am talking about the likes of Frank Ilaboya, Barr. George Ohioma, Atafo Gold and Juliana Ikharo. These four have been steadfast in their support for the party and it is only fair to look in their direction,” Abolagba stressed.

Those present at the meeting included the APC Chairman in Owan West LGA, Hon. Joy Ohonyon, Johnson Abolagba, Joe Ekpekhio, Ojo Asein, Stanley Amu, among others.