Our reporter
A leadership tussle has erupted within the Owan West Local Government chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), causing divisions among party stakeholders.
At the heart of the crisis is the attempt to remove Rev. Peter Obadan, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, from his position as the APC leader in the local government, despite support for his continued leadership from a majority of party members.
The push for Obadan’s removal is reportedly driven by a faction aligned with Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and representative for Owan Federal Constituency. This group is advocating for Dele Ogunleye as Obadan’s replacement, despite resistance from key party members.
The conflict stems from a statement made by Rev. Obadan after the APC’s success in the recent Edo gubernatorial elections. During a meeting with stakeholders, he expressed his readiness to hand over the party’s leadership to Lucky Ohimai, popularly known as Tarex, praising Ohimai’s contribution to the party’s victory.
This pronouncement has led to a split within the APC in Owan West. A group loyal to Hon. Ihonvbere held a meeting where they moved to endorse Ogunleye as the new leader, a decision met with opposition from another faction, which favours Ohimai as the natural successor to Obadan.
Prominent members of the group opposing Ogunleye include Owan West APC Chairman Frank David, LGA Youth Leader Ojo Asein, Chief Odion Omogbai, and others. They argue that Ohimai’s grassroots efforts and strategic leadership were pivotal in reviving the APC in Owan West, which had struggled to gain traction against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Supporters of Ohimai credit his leadership with attracting opposition figures to the APC and energising the party’s campaign, ultimately securing victory in the gubernatorial polls. They claim that calls to remove Obadan are an attempt to diminish Ohimai’s growing influence in the party, which threatens the standing of Hon. Ihonvbere and his allies.
The pro-Ohimai faction has called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to back Ohimai’s leadership and recognise his contributions to the party’s success. They argue that his ability to mobilise resources and energise the party makes him the best candidate to lead the APC in Owan West.
As tensions rise, party stakeholders have urged Governor Okpebholo to maintain fairness in the decision-making process and consider the contributions of individuals like Ohimai when appointing key positions in the state. They warn against undue interference that could undermine the party’s unity and progress.
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