Edo Elections: APC `progressives’ to produce consensus flag-bearer, Aspirant says

The "progressive faction' of the APC in Edo State has agreed to the ground rules and processes to produce a consensus candidate to fly the party’s flag ahead of the Edo gubernatorial elections, according to Retired Gen. Charles Airhiavbere.

Recall that the All Progressive's Congress - APC currently has two factions in Edo with the Airhiavbere faction, which calls itself the "progressive faction"

According to Airhiavbere, the leading governorship aspirant in the upcoming elections, transparency would be the hallmark of the selection process of a candidate to be fielded by the APC in the governorship elections, slated for Sept. 19.

The "progressives faction" of the APC has eight aspirants, one of whom dropped out of the race on May 25.

The other aspirants, including Airhiavbere, are Dr Pius Odubu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo, Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Mr Saturday Uwelekhue.

Also in the race are Prof. Frederick Amadasu, Mr Ehiozuwa Agbonayima and Mr Solomon Edebiri, who has withdrawn.

Airhiavbere said that adopting transparency model would produce a consensus candidate that would be acceptable to everyone.

He said that the process includes, proper screening of aspirants, to avoid rancour as well as ensuring transparency to forestall litigations after the emergence of the candidate.

“The leaders will decide,” he said asserted, stressing the need for every member of the APC to be patient until a consensus candidate emerges among the aspirants.

“I contested against Obaseki in 2016, so whoever is in our team today and wants others to step down for him should be able to convince others why and give them assurances that he will carry them along.

“This is because there already is a sitting governor, who we want to replace because we have seen that we cannot allow him to carry on for another four years.

“What we are doing is that we are contributing money to pay for a ticket for one person and so far so good we are carrying it out.

“One person cannot just assume to have the upper hand. For now, we are preparing for the screening process. We have not been screened. So who then will step down?”

“We are not just sitting down or sleeping because we know Obaseki is not sleeping and PDP too is not sleeping.

“So we just must have a win-win situation by presenting a candidate that everybody will queue behind and respect.”

According to him, the acceptable candidate would be someone, who would have the endorsement of everyone across the length and breadth of the state and any aspirant who would follow the footsteps of Obaseki would not be elected as a governorship candidate of the progressives.

Airhiavbere himself contested the 2015 governorship primaries against incumbent Gov. Godwin Obaseki.

Analysts believe that the upcoming Edo governorship election would be characterized by rancour, bad blood and betrayals. (NAN)