A leadership tussle is rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owan West local government area of Edo State over who takes over from the current leader of the party in the area.
A former deputy governor, Rev Peter Obadan, has tacitly endorsed a successor while supporters of the majority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Julius Ihonvbere, claim that being the highest-ranking political officer in the area, he or anybody he nominated, should become the next leader.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that Rev Obadan, shortly after the victory of the APC in the last gubernatorial elections, told party stakeholders during an enlarged meeting of his willingness to handover the leadership of the party to a younger man, Lucky Ohimai popularly called Tarex who was said to have been instrumental to the victory of the APC.
But some ward leaders in the local government who are said to be loyal to Ihonvbere met recently to strategise on how to remove the long-serving Rev Obadan and replace him with their nominee, Dele Ogunleye.
In a communiqué signed by Mr S.I. Akhigbe and 15 others, it was said that a motion for the replacement of Obadan was moved and unanimously adopted at the meeting.
The choice of Ogunleye and an attempt to alter the leadership status met stiff opposition and condemnation from another leadership group in the local government who opted for the maintenance of the status quo or if a change must be made, it should be Ohimai.
The group said to be opposed to the choice of Ogunleye include the Owan West APC chairman, Frank David, Ojo Asein, the LGA youth leader, Chief Odion Omogbai, Reginald Okun, Enahoro Aikpokpo and several others.
The leadership of the group called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to give recognition to the Ohimai caucus following the latter’s unwavering support and efforts towards his victory at the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
They said before Ohimai came on board, to actively participate in politics of Owan West, the APC in the local government could best be described as a rudderless ship, as the party clearly lacked the wherewithal, strength and focus to prevail in a contest over the now opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had the well-entrenched presence of the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku in its fold.
One of the leaders said, “We don’t need to debate this issue at all. APC was crawling until Tarex came and with his support, we won the last election. Rev Obadan only said the obvious in his speech after the governorship election.”
