Oshiomhole Has Hijacked Ize-Iyamu’s Campaign —DG, APC Govs’ Forum

The former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has been accused by the Progressives Governors’ Forum, of hijacking the campaign of Osagie Ize-Iyamu ahead of the governorship election in Edo State.

The governors under the APC platform, in a statement titled ‘Progressive Politics – Which Way, APC?’ by its Director-General, Dr Salihu Lukeman, raised the alarm over what it described as the diminishing electoral value of the All Progressives Congress.

Lukeman further stated that the dissolution of the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee of the party has not solved the party’s electoral issues.

The PGF DG, while speaking on the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo State noted that the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akerodolu is making efforts to reconcile with aggrieved party members and leaders in Ondo.

He further stated that the reverse is the case in Edo State, he noted that rather than reconciliation, “loud drums of war” had taken over the airwaves in the state.

Lukeman stated, “Comrade Oshiomhole has relocated to Edo State and taken over the APC campaign and the campaign is proceeding in a manner that suggests the Edo State governorship election is an extension of the personal battle between the governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, and Oshiomhole.”

“The APC campaign is personalised around Comrade Oshiomhole and the candidate of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is an onlooker. The soundbite from the Edo APC campaign is so offensive to the point where Comrade Oshiomhole appears to be disowning almost every APC (member) in Edo State between 2016 and now.”

“To that extent, it simply means Comrade Oshiomhole is disowning himself, which may be why he went on his knees begging the Edo people for forgiveness.”

The PGF DG added that APC leaders need to be reminded that the last leadership crisis was triggered by the deep concerns around the diminishing electoral viability of the party.

“What is it that needs to be done to address the problem of diminishing electoral viability of the APC? Do our leaders even agree that the APC is faced with the problem of diminishing electoral viability?”

“This may be the problem, partly because, if our leaders are unable to recognise that the APC is faced with the problem of diminishing electoral viability, then there is a big problem,” he said.