Edo PDP Chieftain Recounts Alleged Okpebholo Pact With Legacy Group

The spokesmantDds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo State and a member of the party’s faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Mr. Bob-Manuel Omobumhe Umoru, has alleged that an agreement existed between the PDP Legacy Group and Governor Monday Okpebholo ahead of the 2024 Edo governorship election.

Umoru, in a viral video circulating online, claimed that the PDP Legacy Group supported Okpebholo’s election bid based on the terms of the alleged agreement.

According to him, the agreement was allegedly signed at the private office of former APC National Chairman, Umar Ganduje, and was witnessed by key political figures from both parties.

He alleged that signatories to the document included Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, Governor Okpebholo, former House of Representatives member, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, and the Secretary of the Edo PDP, Hillary Otsu.

Umoru further claimed that the agreement provided for a power-sharing arrangement in the ratio of 70 per cent for the APC and 30 per cent for the PDP Legacy Group.

He also alleged that members of the Legacy Group were to receive political appointments and opportunities to contest elective positions, including seats in the Edo State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives and one senatorial seat.

“When it is needed, I speak truth to power. Was there an agreement between PDP Legacy Group and Monday Okpebholo? Yes, there was an agreement between Okpebholo and the PDP Legacy Group,” Umoru said.

“In the agreement, we allegedly agreed to share power on the basis of 70 to 30 per cent — 70 per cent for the APC and 30 per cent for the Legacy Group. The agreement was written in the private office of former APC National Chairman, Alhaji Umar Ganduje.

“At the time the agreement was made, Ganduje was the National Chairman. I challenge all the signatories to make the document public for the world to see.”

The PDP spokesman further alleged that the agreement provided that the Legacy Group would produce a candidate for one of the three senatorial districts, although it did not specify whether the slot would be in Edo North, Edo Central or Edo South.

He, however, dismissed claims allegedly being made by Ogbeide-Ihama that the agreement specifically guaranteed him the Edo South Senatorial ticket.

“I was privy to the agreement. This agreement was not honoured. On whether there was a clause in the agreement that Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama should be given a particular position, the answer is no.

“Ogbeide-Ihama is going about telling the world that the agreement stated he should be given the Senate ticket. There was no clause in that agreement that specifically mentioned his name for the senatorial ticket.

“The only time his name appeared was among the signatories. Okpebholo and Jarret Tenebe signed on behalf of the APC, while Ogbeide-Ihama and Hillary Otsu signed on behalf of the PDP.

“That agreement never specified that Ogbeide-Ihama should be given the Edo South ticket. Even if Edo South was eventually chosen, it would be the leaders of the Legacy Group that would decide who gets the ticket.

“The claim that the agreement guaranteed him the Edo South Senatorial ticket in 2027 is a fallacy,” he alleged.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of Tenebe were unsuccessful as calls made to his telephone line were not answered.

However, a close aide to Ogbeide-Ihama, who spoke on condition of anonymity, dismissed Umoru’s claims, insisting that he should not be accorded any relevance.

“He was not there when the agreement was signed. He was only directed to do what he was asked to do. He was not present when the agreement was drafted and signed. My principal will not respond to him,” the aide said.