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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Emperor Jarret Tenebe has dismissed reports of a rift between him and former National Chairman of the party, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, saying there are “no cracks on the wall” within the party leadership in the state.
The APC chairman, who disclosed this during a media chat in Benin, said insinuations that his relationship with Oshiomhole could affect his chances of remaining party chairman were “far from the truth.”
“The leader of the party in Edo State is the governor, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpeholo. There have been insinuations that Senator Adams Oshiomhole and I are not working together, and that is very far from the truth. The only time we had a disagreement was during the primaries, when I insisted that the right thing must be done.
“After the primaries, we campaigned together, we won together, and we have continued to work together. There are absolutely no cracks on the wall,” Tenebe said, adding that all differences had since been resolved.
The APC chairman spoke against the backdrop of speculations by some leaders of the party of an alleged plan not to return him as the substantive chairman of the party after the party’s convention this year.
Though currently serving in an acting capacity, Tenebe is confident of being confirmed as substantive chairman, saying that the party would not “change a winning team.”
“We fought to ensure that Edo State has a good candidate and a good government, and we achieved that. Now, the responsibility of the party is to support the governor to succeed and to ensure that the dividends of democracy promised to the people are delivered,” he said.
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The APC chairman, who also addressed complaints that some party loyalists have been sidelined after the election, dismissed such claims of exclusion, arguing that inclusive governance was necessary for development.
“I do not see anybody who has been shut out. Someone who campaigned against you yesterday but later sees reason and identifies with you should not be rejected. Throwing people away is not wise,” he stated.
Tenebe disclosed that the APC is working aggressively to mobilise voters within and outside the state in preparation for the 2027 presidential election.
“Edo State has about three million registered voters, many of whom are not currently living in the state. We are reaching out to Edo people across the country and putting logistics in place to bring them home to vote. We are serious about delivering 3.5 million votes for President Tinubu, and we can even surpass that,” he boasted.
“We have met with 16 PDP LGA chairmen, and Labour Party LGA chairmen are also coming in. If you look closely, the opposition has collapsed,” Tenebe disclosed, adding that several opposition party structures were already defecting to the APC.
On the claim by the opposition that mass defections could weaken democracy, the Edo APC chairman said it was not the responsibility of the ruling party to sustain the opposition, adding:
“It is the duty of the opposition to be formidable. The Constitution guarantees freedom of association. If anyone wants to join the APC, we will accept them.”
