Fresh, albeit unconfirmed, signals have emerged from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, suggesting a possible shift in strategy ahead of the State House of Assembly primaries.
Multiple anonymous sources claim that Governor Monday Okpebholo recently met with APC Local Government Area chairmen and prospective aspirants at Government House in Benin City, where he allegedly advised them not to rush into purchasing nomination and expression of interest forms.
According to the insiders, the governor urged caution, indicating that broader consultations with party leaders and stakeholders across the state were still ongoing and should be concluded before aspirants commit financially to the process.
The development has fuelled speculation within party circles that the governor may not favour an immediate direct primary, but could be weighing alternative options or seeking consensus before finalising preferred candidates.
Interestingly, despite the APC’s official timetable—fixing the sale of forms between April 25 and May 2, 2026, and submission deadline for May 4—many aspirants in Edo have yet to publicly obtain their forms. The nomination process requires a total payment of ₦6 million, covering ₦1 million for expression of interest and ₦5 million for the nomination form.
While the report remains unverified, party faithful interpret the governor’s alleged directive as a strong indication that internal alignments are still in motion, with final decisions likely to emerge after critical consultations are concluded.
