A fresh crisis of confidence is rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State as Governor Monday Okpebholo and former governor Adams Oshiomhole clash over who controls the party’s leadership ahead of the party’s nationwide congresses scheduled for December 2025.
Findings reveal that Governor Okpebholo is backing the acting state chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, to become the substantive chairman, while Senator Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North in the Senate, is pushing to oust Tenebe. The former governor is reportedly working with his long-time ally and Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, to install a new leadership loyal to his camp.
Political insiders say the friction stems from the 2024 APC governorship primaries, during which Oshiomhole backed Hon. Dennis Idahosa from Edo South, against Okpebholo, then representing Edo Central in the Senate. Tenebe, defying Oshiomhole’s influence, supported Okpebholo’s candidacy, a move that later proved decisive when the Presidency ordered a fresh process that produced Okpebholo as the party’s flag bearer.
A party chieftain told this newspaper that the governor remains loyal to Tenebe for “standing by him when it mattered most.” Both Tenebe and Oshiomhole hail from Etsako, in Edo North, but Oshiomhole is said to be rooting for former Deputy Governor, Hon. Pius Egberamwen Odubu, as the next chairman.
The plot thickens with reports that Senate President Godswill Akpabio, believed to have played a key role in Okpebholo’s emergence, is also backing Tenebe. Sources close to the Senate leadership allege that Akpabio’s support for Tenebe is part of a broader strategy to whittle down Oshiomhole’s growing influence and block his possible return to the Senate in 2027—a move aimed at neutralising any future bid for the Senate Presidency.
Party insiders suggest that Okpebholo may align with Akpabio’s camp, viewing the Senate President as a political benefactor whose support he cannot afford to lose.
Meanwhile, another influential APC leader, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is also expected to back Tenebe’s return, further intensifying the divide between pro-Oshiomhole and pro-Okpebholo blocs.
But discontent is growing within the party over Tenebe’s leadership style, which critics describe as “authoritarian and crude.” Some party stakeholders argue that his approach has deepened divisions rather than united the ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections.
One senior party official said, “We cannot keep returning to the same heavy-handed leadership that alienates members instead of uniting them.”
As dissatisfaction mounts, Pius Odubu and Abdul Ganiyu Lawani (Abu Millionaire), both from Edo North—are emerging as possible replacements. Oshiomhole and Momoh are said to be strongly pushing for either of the two as a compromise option to stabilise the party structure.
A party leader in Oredo, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described Odubu as a “bridge builder and unifier.”
“Odubu is fatherly and liberal in approach. Even in the face of crisis, he retains goodwill across the state. What Edo APC needs now is not another bulldozer but someone who can rebuild bridges—and Odubu fits that profile,” the source said.
However, some members insist the chairmanship should remain in Edo North for reasons of geo-political balance and inclusion.
For now, Governor Okpebholo—known for his quiet, calculative style, appears caught between loyalty to Tenebe and the growing pressure from powerful party forces aligned with Oshiomhole.
As the December 2025 congress approaches, the question remains: Who blinks first—Okpebholo or Oshiomhole? The coming months promise a fierce political showdown within the Edo APC.
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