Concerned stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo South Senatorial District on Tuesday warned that alleged intimidation and imposition tactics ahead of the party primaries could plunge the party into another internal crisis capable of hurting its chances in future elections.
The stakeholders, who spoke through Barrister. Uyi Obakpolor of Oredo Local Government Area and Engr. Benson Obaretin.
They accused some aides of the Edo State Government of making threatening remarks against former governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in a video said to be circulating on social media.
According to them, the alleged actions of the aides, identified as Emmanuel Egogo, Apostle Kassy and another individual known as “Nonminddem,” were capable of undermining internal democracy and deepening divisions within the ruling party in Edo State.
Obakpolor and Obaretin said groups within the APC had already raised concerns that recent developments in the party “threaten party unity and risk serious electoral consequences,” warning that the APC could repeat the mistakes that led to its defeat in the 2020 governorship election if urgent steps were not taken.
The stakeholders further stated that loyalists of the party in Edo South had rejected what they described as attempts to impose candidates and surrender party structures to external interests, insisting that continuing on such a path would prepare the APC “for defeat, not victory.”
They called on Governor Monday Okpebholo, as leader of the APC in Edo State, to immediately restrain his appointees and political aides from acts capable of intimidating aspirants ahead of the primaries, stressing that all contestants must be allowed to participate freely without threats, coercion or harassment.
The group also urged the APC State Working Committee and the National Working Committee to investigate the authenticity of the alleged video and sanction any official found culpable of violating the party’s constitution and code of conduct.
They equally appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of the APC to intervene early to prevent the crisis from escalating, while calling for a transparent and credible primary process that would guarantee fairness, neutrality and acceptance by all aspirants and party members.
