Edo APC Blames Oshiomhole For Party’s Loss In Governorship Election

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has been blamed for the party’s loss in the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.

Anslem Ojezua, chairman of the APC in Edo State said the arrogance and stubbornness of Oshiomhole in handling party affairs during the build-up to the polls, accounted for the eventual loss during the governorship election.

The party made this known in its congratulatory message to Governor Godwin Obaseki who contested and won on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Naija News recalls Obaseki was of the APC but was disqualified from contesting the party’s governorship primaries, forcing him to move to the PDP.

Obaseki polled 307,955 votes to defeat all other candidates including Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the APC, who secured 223,619 votes.

Ojezua in his congratulatory message to Obaseki for his victory at the polls, blamed the “arrogant and irresponsible leadership” in APC for the crisis that caused the party’s loss at the poll.

The chairman said: “We join President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Caretaker Committee of our great Party to congratulate Governor Godwin Obasekl and his Deputy Rt. Hon. Philip Shalbu for their victory at the just concluded Governorship election in Edo state.”

“The election has been generally acclaimed to be peaceful, orderly and transparent. The people of Edo State have made their choice In a very clear and unambiguous manner.

“Our loss at the poll stems from the needles and avoidable crisis foisted on the party by a selfish, insensitive, arrogant and irresponsible leadership.”

He however noted that the APC has activated measures to salvage the party and mend broken fences in the best interest of the people of Edo.

“While we begin to take steps to try and salvage the well being of our party in the state, we call on the governor to be magnanimous in victory while we urge all those who contested to sheathe their swords and put the elections behind us.

“We must all and close ranks with the government in order to ensure a seamless transition to the final lap of governance in the State without being subjected to any further needless distraction and rancour.

“The establishment of a robust infrastructural base to guarantee economic growth at this critical time must be the paramount consideration and in the best interest of the good people of Edo state.”

Meanwhile, Naija News earlier reported that the Aslem Ojezua-led faction of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, has explained that it is yet to take a final decision on plans to expel the former National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.

Ojezua while speaking with The Nation, noted that the report that the faction has reached out to the national body of the party informing it of their plans to expel Oshiomhole.

He further stated that the party is yet to meet to review the entire election, adding that a meeting has been scheduled for Thursday.

According to Ojezua, “We have not met. We are meeting on Thursday to review the entire situation. That is when we will make our decision known by way of formal briefing. We have not met. We shall meet on Thursday.”

A tweet, allegedly by Ajezua on Tuesday had read, “I have written to the APC National headquarters that I and all the party chairmen down to the ward level have all signed the petition to completely expel Adams Oshiomhole from our great Party.”