Edo politics: Why APC is favoured to win -Hon. Tenebe

By Jude Opara, Abuja

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state, Hon. Jarrett Tenebe has given reasons he believes that his party is most positioned to win the September 21 governorship election in the state.

Tenebe who spoke to Peoples Daily exclusively said the people of Edo state are already tired with the administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whom he said has destroyed the state with his divisive policies.

The Chairman who was reacting to the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja which nullified the primary of the PDP said even if their candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo contests the election, he does not have what it takes to defeat the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo because he is barely known in the state.

“This election is about the survival of Edo state after the eight years of governor Obaseki which has virtually destroyed the state with his divisive politics. The governor is only busy fighting everybody. He is fighting the Oba, the elders of the state, the religious institutions and anybody who holds a contrary opinion from his own thinking.

“He has been destroying peoples’ houses, markets and even religious places. Unfortunately, for the PDP, their candidate has said he will continue from where Obaseki stops, but the people of Edo are tired of politics of bitterness and division. The state wants a unifier, a man who truly knows the state and can relate with everybody irrespective of their clan or status and that man is Sen. Monday Okpebholo”.

On the nullification of the PDP primary, Tenebe who is also a student of law said Courts in Nigeria have the authority to intervene and set aside primaries if there is evidence that that a political party has not adhered to its own rules or has unlawfully excluded delegates.

According to him, such judicial interventions aim to ensure fairness and compliance in the electoral process.

“A court can set aside primaries if a political party violates its own rules and statutes, including by excluding delegates who should be part of the process.

“Courts have jurisdiction to review whether a political party complied with its own rules and relevant provisions of the electoral Act during the conduct of its own primaries. If a party fails to follow its guidelines or excludes delegates unlawfully, affected parties can seek judicial intervention, See the case of Ugwu V. Ararume (2007), the Supreme Court nullified primaries election because of substantial non-compliance with party rules.

PDP V. Sylva (2012) saw the Supreme Court set aside primaries due to failure of the party to adhere to its constitution and guidelines”.

Tenebe further called on Ighodalo and the candidate of the Labour Party, Barr. Olumide Akpata to stop dissipating energy and join the APC candidate, to salvage the state by forming a government of unity.