I’ve no rift with Oshiomhole — Tenebe
….Says Okpebholo remains leader of Edo APC
….Gives insight on 3.5m votes promised Tinubu
BENIN CITY—Contrary to reports, the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Jarret Tenebe, yesterday, said he has no issues with a national leader of the party, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, insisting that Governor Monday Okpebholo remains the leader of the party in the state.
Speaking to journalists at his residence in Benin City, Tenebe said the party would hold rancour-free ward, local government and state congresses, assuring that he would emerge as the chairman of the party in the state to begin his term, having completed that of his predecessor, Col. David Imuse (rtd), who resigned to contest the 2024 governorship election.
The APC chairman also explained how the party would deliver 3.5 million votes to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election, saying the party was massively mobilising people to register as members and also participate in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Continuous Voters Registration.
According to him, “The leader of the party in the state is the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo. There have been insinuations that Senator Adams Oshiomhole and I are not working together, and that is very far from the truth. The only point where we differed was during the primaries. I insisted that the right thing should be done, and once I push for what is right, I do not renege until the proper thing is done. However, we have all gone past that stage.
“After the primaries, we had the election, we campaigned together, we won together, and since then we have continued to work together. There are absolutely no cracks on the wall.”
On the coming congresses, he said: “I have been acting, and this will be my first term to be confirmed as substantive chairman, having served under the caretaker arrangement. I also do not think the party will change the winning team. We started the fight to ensure that we had a good candidate and a good government in Edo State, and we achieved that.
“The next step is to support the government to succeed. As party chairman, it is my responsibility to stand with the governor, defend him, and ensure that he delivers the dividends of democracy he promised the people.”
Tenebe said the 3.5 million votes promised President Bola Tinubu are not a mirage, stating that “by next week, we will receive all the Labour Party LGA chairmen into the APC. We have also held meetings with 16 PDP LGA chairmen who are defecting. If you look closely, you will see that the opposition has already collapsed.”
“We analysed the voters’ register and discovered that Edo State has about three million registered voters, many of whom are not currently living in the state. I have been travelling across the country to meet Edo people who registered at home, encouraging them to return during the election. We have also concluded plans with donors to provide logistics to bring them back.
Vanguard
