Fresh cracks have emerged within the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress following allegations of a controversial political alignment involving Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The Edo APC Media Diaspora Group, in a statement issued on Sunday, accused the governor of allegedly threatening his appointees from Edo South with removal if they fail to support candidates said to be backed by forces linked to Wike.
The statement, jointly signed by the group’s General Coordinator, Taju Omoruyi; General Secretary, Dr Alasa Braimoh; and other officials, claimed that appointments were being used as leverage to influence the outcome of the primaries.
According to the group, the governor allegedly directed his Edo South appointees to ensure the emergence of aspirants associated with a faction it described as the Peoples Democratic Party Legacy Group, warning of consequences for non-compliance.
It described the alleged move as a betrayal of loyal party members and an attempt to cede the party’s structure in Edo South to external political interests.
The group also revisited claims from the last election cycle, alleging that there had been prior agreements between the governor and elements within the PDP bloc to control a portion of the political structure in the state.
It further alleged that the Edo South senatorial ticket had been earmarked as part of such arrangements, raising concerns among stakeholders over what it termed an imbalance in the party’s internal processes.
Particular reference was made to a senatorial aspirant, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, whom the group claimed was being favoured through undue influence.
The group also accused the governor of sidelining long-standing APC members while allegedly accommodating defectors from opposition ranks into key government positions.
“These actions have heightened tension within the state and raised questions about the governor’s loyalty to party members who contributed to his emergence,” the statement noted, warning that any attempt to manipulate the primaries would be resisted.
It called on party leaders and President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure a transparent and credible primary process.
However, responding to the allegations, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, dismissed claims of imposition, stating that the governor reserves the right to support any aspirant in line with what he considers the broader interest of the people.
Afegbua maintained that the administration remains committed to inclusive governance and does not engage in forcing candidates on party members.