Fresh tensions may be brewing within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State as a political pressure group has warned against what it described as a secret plan to impose a candidate for the Edo South Senatorial seat.
The group, known as APC Formidables (AF), raised the concern in a statement issued on Friday, cautioning that any attempt to impose a candidate on party members in Edo South could trigger a backlash capable of disrupting the party’s political progress in the state.
The statement was jointly signed by the group’s coordinator, Iguodalo Imafidon, and its secretary, Pius Imuetinyan. The group accused unnamed political actors of promoting what it described as a “dangerous political experiment” that could weaken party unity in the senatorial district, which has the largest voting population in Edo State.
According to the group, it decided to speak out following increasing speculation within political circles that a secret arrangement may already be underway to position a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Oredo Federal Constituency as the party’s preferred candidate.
AF further alleged that the rumoured plan may be linked to political interests outside Edo State, particularly figures associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a development it described as troubling.
“Edo South is not a political colony to be allocated through midnight negotiations. It is both insulting and provocative for anyone outside the state to believe they can determine who flies the party’s flag in a district with such a strong political consciousness.”
The group questioned what role the FCT minister could have in the political decisions of Edo South.
“Would such interference be tolerated in Edo North or Edo Central? The people of Edo South will not sit back and watch their political destiny negotiated behind closed doors,” the group warned.
Beyond the alleged external influence, AF said imposing a candidate through elite arrangements could undermine the party’s internal reward system and alienate loyal members who have sustained its grassroots structures.
The group argued that Edo South, which it described as the electoral backbone of the party in the state, could experience internal dissatisfaction if the senatorial ticket is decided outside transparent and democratic processes.
AF also criticised the record of the former Oredo Federal Constituency lawmaker, claiming his time in office produced little in terms of lasting projects.
“Beyond media visibility and political theatrics, the people of Oredo cannot point to transformative projects or enduring legislative accomplishments from his time in office,” the group stated.
The group challenged supporters of the former lawmaker to publicly identify any landmark project executed during his tenure.
