As the 2027 general elections draw near, the contest for the APC ticket in Edo South Senatorial District has evolved beyond a typical political battle. What should have been an internal party process is now a broader conversation about loyalty, gratitude, and respect for the leadership that brought the present administration to power in Edo State.
Political circles are rife with concern over reports that Governor Monday Okpebholo has chosen to oppose President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's alleged preference for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the senatorial candidate. Ize-Iyamu, a former Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Edo State Government, is a long-standing party loyalist. The Governor's reported alignment with the preferred candidate of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Engr. Ogbeide Ihama, is seen by many as a direct affront to the President's authority.
Sources indicate that state resources and government machinery have been deployed to secure endorsements for Ihama through pressure and coercion. However, grassroots resistance remains strong. At a recent endorsement gathering facilitated by former Deputy Governor Lucky Imasuen, attendees openly shouted "No" when asked if they supported Ihama, highlighting the gap between orchestrated endorsements and genuine sentiment.
In contrast, Ize-Iyamu continues to enjoy goodwill among party elders and ordinary citizens. His years of service and sacrifices for the party are widely acknowledged. This has led to a painful question: Would Governor Okpebholo rather please Wike than stand with the President who played a crucial role in his emergence as Governor?
Political history shows the difficult circumstances of the 2024 APC gubernatorial primaries, where Ize-Iyamu reportedly provided the lifeline that secured Okpebholo's candidacy. Without those interventions, Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa might have emerged. Party faithful find it troubling that the Governor now aligns with a bloc perceived as loyal to Wike rather than the Presidency.
Reports that Okpebholo has credited Wike for his political rise have deepened perceptions that he values Wike's approval over Tinubu's leadership. For a Governor whose rise was enabled by the APC structure, this moment demands caution and political wisdom. The Edo South battle is now a defining test of loyalty and gratitude. The APC family and Edo people are watching, and history will remember those who stood with or against the President.
