Primaries: Reward Loyal Members, Eribo Urges Edo APC Leadership

A frontline politician in Edo State, Hon. Crosby Eribo, has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to prioritise and reward loyal party members who stand by the party during its most challenging periods ahead of the 2027 general election.

Eribo made the appeal on Monday at the APC secretariat in Egor local government secretariat of the State while formally declaring his intention to contest for the party’s ticket to represent Egor/Ikpoba-Okha federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

He stressed that party tickets should not be handed out arbitrarily but reserved for individuals who laboured to sustain the APC during its formative and crisis years.

According to him, loyalty and sacrifice must remain key considerations in the selection of candidates.

Recounting his personal experience, Eribo said he remained steadfast in the APC despite political setbacks, including his non-inauguration as a member of the Edo State House of Assembly during the administration of Immediate-past governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki.

“It was tough, but we insisted that the party must not die. Those who worked for the party should be rewarded. APC must learn to reward those who worked for it,” Crosby Eribo said.

Reflecting on his return to the party secretariat, he described the moment as emotional, noting that the structure was built through collective sacrifices of early members, many of whom contributed personal resources to keep the party afloat.

“It is like a homecoming for me. When we started, there was no APC. A few of us had to secure accommodation and even furnish the office with personal items. Some of those people are no longer alive,” Eribo added.

While commending the relatively peaceful conduct of aspirants in the constituency, he further advocated zoning of the federal constituency seat between Egor and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas to reduce tension, insisting that his administrative and legislative experience positioned him well to effectively represent the people.