The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State is facing a deepening crisis as gubernatorial aspirants reject the influence of Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, dismissing him as the party’s godfather.
The turmoil comes in the wake of the controversial selection process that pruned down the number of aspirants from 29 to six.
The Oshiomhole-backed committee, chaired by Professor Julius Ihonvbere, has been the focal point of discontent among the aspirants who believe the decision goes against the principles of internal democracy within the party.
The selected candidates, including Clem Agba, Afolabi Ernest, Senator Monday Okpebholo, David Imuse, Dennis Idahosa, and Lucky Imasuen, are seen by some as handpicked favourites.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate in the 2020 Edo governorship election, has picked expression of interest and nomination forms, challenging the notion of Oshiomhole as a godfather.
Addressing journalists at the APC national secretariat, Abuja, yesterday after obtaining the forms for Ize-Iyamu, a group led by Hon. Emmanuel Momoh said the selection of few aspirants by the Oshiomhole-backed committee was against the APC Constitution.
“That he (Ize-Iyamu) is not among the anointed; it is only God that anoints. Let me make it clear to every Nigerian, what was done does not reflect in the constitution of the APC. The committee that was set up is not the organ of the APC, there was nothing done, it was an action of one man who is a voter like me.
“No single voter has the right to anoint a candidate, we are all members of APC and we stand on that it is today that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu officially presented himself to the party as an aspirant, an intending candidate of the party, and the process begins today.
“If you look at the calendar of APC, so the issue of somebody been anointed does not hold water, and we want to let you know that he is going ahead with the race, and whatever have been done can be considered as a sham and is not inline with the direction of the National Working Committee of the party,” he said.
Another aspirant, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, who is not among the chosen contenders, has also bought the APC form
