Group warns APC against giving Edo guber ticket to Okpebholo over anti-party activities

A group in the All Progressives Congress (APC) known as Concerned Edo Youths has warned the national leadership of the party against giving its governorship ticket in next year’s election to senator representing Edo central, Monday Okpebholo.

In a statement on Friday, Shuaibu Francis, coordinator of the group, said the APC does not stand a chance of winning the election with Okpebholo flying its flag.

Francis said the Edo central senator is engaged in anti-party activities.

“We have it on good authority that the distinguished senator has been engaged in activities that would not lead to the progress of the party,” he said.

“In the build-up to the election for senate president, the senator went against the wishes of the party and queued up behind Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara state, against the current senate president, Godswill Akpabio.

“The leaders of APC should note that a man that can arrogantly disregard the decision of Mr. President is capable of betraying the trust of the party.

“He has also reportedly claimed that he will buy the APC in the state to ensure he emerges the candidate of the party ahead of the governorship election but he is yet to do anything significant in the senate.

“Some days ago, he reportedly accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of mismanaging funds meant as aid to the people of Edo for the removal of subsidies on petrol, but he has not set a good example as senator.”

The coordinator said the educational background of the senator is “a thing of mystery”, adding that a thorough check into his background could be a blow to the APC.

“We challenge the distinguished senator to tell us what degrees he obtained as academic qualifications because no one seems to know where he graduated from.

“We hear he has boasted about buying over APC stalwarts in Edo just to secure the ticket, we ask him to tell us where he got that sort of war chest he wants to use.”

The group’s coordinator said Abdullahi Ganduje, national APC chair, and other chieftains of the party should screen everyone who is interested in the party’s governorship ticket.

“We want to call on his excellency, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, national chairman of the APC, to ensure that those seeking the party’s ticket be thoroughly screened to avoid future embarrassment,” he said.

“We don’t see senator Okpebholo as a winning material. APC needs a strong candidate to send the PDP packing from our beloved state of Edo.

“Our leader in Edo state, his excellency, Adams Oshiomhole, should be wary of Okpebholo. He was on of those who jubilated when Oshiomhole was removed as National chair of our great party. People with questionable loyalty should not considered for that important position.”

Francis said the party should look to more qualified candidates in the APC that could rival those the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) are preparing to field.