A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Emmanuel Odigie, has accused the Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, of stoking a crisis during the party’s primary election on Saturday.
He alleged that Mr Oshiomole is adamant of imposing his stooge as the party’s candidate due to his alleged 2027 ambition of becoming the Senate President.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the chairman of the primary election committee and governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, had declared a member of House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, the winner of the election.
However, two other aspirants, Anamero Dekeri, and Monday Okpebholo, also emerged as winners in parallel primaries conducted on Saturday.
Following protests by many stakeholders in the state, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party declared the election inconclusive.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Wednesday, Mr Odigie accused Mr Oshiomhole of using hired thugs to harass voters, beat up party officials, and make away with their valuables during the botched exercise.
He said: “All these are happening because our leader, (Adams) Oshiomhole, whom I respect so much, wants to become the Senate president in 2027.
“He just wants to use this young boy (Idahosa) to get access to the Edo State Treasury to fund his ambition to be senate president. But he must not set the party on fire,” he said.
“We have never experienced this kind of thuggery since the APC was created.
“Every four years, one man wants to dictate what happened in Edo State, this is unacceptable to the Edo people.
“And it is unacceptable to the entire leadership of the party in the state,” the chieftain said.
While appreciating the APC’s NWC for their intervention, Mr Odigies said the exercise will end in futility if the party’s hierarchy doesn’t call the former governor to order.
“I appreciate the national working committee, for doing the right thing in ensuring that the will of the people wasn’t subverted by one man.
“All the NWC [of the APC] needs to do is to appeal to our leader, Adams Oshiomhole, to please allow peace in Edo and allow free and fair primaries,” he said.
Mr Odigie also appealed to the lawmaker to retrace his steps and stop trying to destroy a party that gave him the opportunity to serve as governor, national chairman, and now senator.
