EDO 2024: OKPEBHOLO IN POLITICAL OFFICE SHARING SCANDAL
· Promises four different people his senatorial seat if they support him to be governor
· Ex Minister agrees to proposal
· House of Reps seat currently in Uromi to go to Esan NE in proposed deal
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming September 21 governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has been embroiled in a major political office sharing scandal.
According to reliable sources within Okpebholo’s campaign team, the Edo Central lawmaker has allegedly promised his senatorial seat to at least four different former governorship aspirants who contested the APC primary with him. The sources claim that Okpebholo has been promising to facilitate these politicians’ transition to the Senate if they can provide their support for his gubernatorial ambition.
The politicians reportedly promised Okpebholo’s Senate seat include Arc. Mike Onolemenmen, a former Minister of Works from Esan North East Local Government; Chief Festus Ebea from Esan South East; Hon. Joe Ikpea, also from Esan South East; and Victor Eboigbe, another politician from Esan South East.
Interestingly, the sources reveal that Arc. Onolemenmen, who is a close friend of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has now suddenly thrown his weight behind Okpebholo’s APC campaign. It is believed that Onolemenmen’s decision to work with Okpebholo is due to the alleged agreement to secure the senatorial seat.
The source said: “The Minister knows Asue is a more competent and by far a better candidate than Akpakomiza; but for the allure of office, he wants to go to the Senate. They have reached an agreement to give Monday’s Senate seat to Arc. Mike if APC wins the election. And if things go according plans, the implication will be that both Senator and House of Reps member will be from Uromi axis.”
However, the insiders disclosed that as part of the deal, the current House of Representatives member representing the Esan NE/Esan SE federal constituency, Hon. Odi Okojie, will have to make way for a replacement from Esan SE, to take over the seat.
When contacted, Hon. Okojie, who is also the husband of popular Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson, expressed unease about the development, but sources within the APC camp have assured him that he can be made a commissioner if he helps to deliver Uromi for the party.
Asked if Hon Okojie will probably align with any of the other Esan South East politicians so that he can preserve his Reps seat, the source stated that “Odi is a young boy, a loyal party man and a true son of Uromi. The senate is better than Reps for Uromi. Let Odi relax. He has time. After minister finishes in the Senate, Odi can go back to the National Assembly. When Akpakomiza wins the election in September, Odi can be made a commissioner if he helps to deliver Uromi for us,” the source stated.
This scandal has undoubtedly cast a dark cloud over Okpebholo’s gubernatorial ambition, raising questions about the integrity and transparency of the political process in the APC.