APC Explain Loss of Edo Governorship Election

A faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo has identified the activities of its former National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole and the exit of Governor Obaseki among reasons it lost the September governorship election in state.

The position of the Factional Executive of the party, led by Barrister Anselm Ojezua, is contained in a communique it released on Friday, at the end of a meeting it held to review the outcome of the election in Benin City.

According to the communique, the key factor for the loss was the formation of a parallel group within the party for the sole purpose of removing Godwin Obaseki from office as Governor of Edo State.

Another factor, the communique said is, “The forced exit of the incumbent governor … for whom the entire officers of the party had expressed preference as a consensus candidate”.

It also said that the poor choice of what it called, ‘ a replacement’, for the Governor and , ” the total disregard and disrespect for the structures of the party in Edo state by the candidate of the party who put Adams Oshiomhole in charge of his campaign” did not help matters.

The communique said that the party’s loss was also due to: “The contemptuous rebuff of the commendable and proactive efforts and recommendations of the Senator Ken Nnamani led Reconciliation Committee”.

It added that the party in Edo State was designed to fail in the election because , “The leadership of the party at the National level allowed Oshiomhole to lead the campaign in Edo State to the exclusion of the entire party apparatus”.

The communique therefore called on the APC National Caretaker Committee to exhibit the requisite courage to do all that is necessary based on the provisions of the party Constitution and the rule of law to move the party forward.

It concluded that the Committee should explore further all avenues to achieve, ” full and genuine reconciliation in Edo State” adding, “Anything short of that will spell doom for the party in the state”.