Ahead of the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, former governor and incumbent senator represent Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has been advised to allow the zoning arrangement in the party.
The chairman of the Coalition of APC Edo Leaders, Colins Ojeiwa, who gave the admonition yesterday in Abuja, said Oshiomhole should avoid throwing away the political goodwill that has sustained him over the years.
He spoke against the backdrop of allegations that Oshiomhole, who is the leader of the party in Edo State, was supporting a particular aspirant from Edo South to be the governorship candidate of the party in the primaries coming up next week.
Ojeiwa stated that the average Edo man or woman knows that it is the turn of Edo Central to produce the next governor of the state.
He said, “If the party leadership under Oshiomhole decides to take the governorship candidate to another zone, APC will be shocked by the reaction of the voting public across the state.”
He added that there is a gentleman agreement not only in zoning in Edo State, but also neighbouring Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, etc.
If for whatsoever reason any party goes against this agreement, the party will reap the anger of the public,“ the APC leader stated.
“It is important to advise APC leaders that no one party has the monopoly of victory in the 2024 governorship election. The race is open, and no party should whip up unnecessary sentiments for selfish interest.
“The decision of the PDP to pick its candidate from Edo central has endeared Governor Godwin Obaseki to more people across the state because only truth can heal the conscience of the public.
“We as party faithful wants our leader, Senator Oshiomhole, to emulate Obaseki and select the party flag bearer from Edo central, which is the most marginalised in terms of rotation.
“That was how late Chief Samuel Ogbemudia, Inu Umoru, and Anthony Anenih held on with the leadership of the state by balancing positions and ensuring that the senatorial zones co-habited in peace, at least politically,” he said.
The Oshiomhole-backed leadership of APC in the state had recently set up a committee headed by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, his former SSG to review the 28 number of aspirants for the governorship tickets of APC and bring them down to a sizeable number.
The committee eventually reduced the number to four, which has since caused commotion. Among the four, Adams Oshiomhole is rumoured to be supporting one of them who is currently a member of the House of Representative from Edo South, where the incumbent Governor Obaseki hails from.