APC Edo State Chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe allegedly holding the ace in collaboration with the Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo in determining who becomes the Party’s candidate
• Anoints Candidates Ahead of Saturday Poll
By Dada AYOKHAI
BENIN CITY – The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has turned Saturday’s House of Representatives primaries into a formal coronation of consensus candidates across the State, following a pattern similar to the party’s local government primaries ahead of the council elections.
Governor Monday Okpebholo is said to have adopted a consensus arrangement to ensure his preferred aspirants emerge as the party’s flag bearers.
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In Edo North Senatorial District, House Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere has been anointed to pursue a third term. Party sources said other aspirants were left with little choice but to defer to party supremacy.
Ihonvbere’s candidacy has, however, drawn criticism over alleged violation of an existing rotational arrangement between Owan West and Owan East.
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In Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, party leaders reportedly settled for Otunba Bamidele Bankole-Balogun, who recently resigned as Executive Director of the Edo State Internal Revenue Board.
For Etsako Federal Constituency, incumbent member Sunday Anamero Dekeri has received Governor Okpebholo’s backing for a third term.
One of the aspirants, Blessing Agbomhere, confirmed he had stepped down for Dekeri “in the spirit of party loyalty and respect for the governor.”
Party insiders say a similar scenario is expected to play out in the Edo Central and Edo South senatorial districts, where consensus arrangements are being finalized ahead of the primaries.
But notably, in the southern zone of the State; the aftermath of the consensus arrangement if not well managed, will definitely deal a devastating blow to the wellbeing of the Party not only in the 2027 election, but future elections like the governorship.
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