The 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections may have come and gone, the shocking performance of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State exposes the deep crack and discontentment among party faithful. PATRICK OCHOGA, writes

The outcome of the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections in Edo State was a clear indication that all is not well in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

The declining political fortunes of the APC even became more glaring in Edo South and Central senatorial districts as the APC was overrun by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

More painful for the party were the near total rejection of the party at the concluded national assembly and Presidential election in Oredo, Egor, and Ikpoba Okha local government areas of the state, metropolitan councils that control huge population and a senatorial district of the governor Godwin Obaseki.

Beside the APC’s loss of the senate and two House of Representatives seats in Edo Central, the APC also lost, the Edo South senatorial seat and two House of Representatives seats of Ikpoba Okha/ Egor and Oredo federal constituencies to the PDP.

However, the APC recorded some political strides in Edo north senatorial district where the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole hails from. APC swept all the national assembly seats with the PDP recording zero votes in Oshiomhole’s unit and ward.

At the end of the PDP have in its kitties 2 senatorial seats and 4 House of Representatives seat while the ruling APC control 1 senatorial seat and 5 house of representative seats.

For the PDP Senator Mathew Urhoghide, representing Edo South senatorial district, Hon Jude Ise-Idehen, Hon Omoregie Ogbeide representing Oredo federal constituency won.

While APC, Senator Alimekhena, representing Edo North, Hon Johnson Oghuma, Hon Peter Akpatason, Prof Julius Ihonvbere , Hon Dennis Idahosa, and Hon Patrick Aisowerie all won.

Expectedly, the results in Edo Central senatorial district may not have come to many as a surprise owing to the fact that the district is predominantly the People’s Democratic Party stronghold right from the inception of stable democracy in 1999.

Despite campaign promise by Governor Godwin Obaseki to deliver one million votes to President Muhammadu Buhari’s in the concluded Presidential elections, the PDP polled 275, 681 against 267, 800 votes of the APC.

The votes that shore up the figures for the APC largely came from Edo north senatorial districts and the four council areas of Edo South where the APC candidates won to close the gap of what would have been a wide margin.

The Pitfalls

Shortly after governor Godwin Obaseki assumed the leadership of the state over two years ago, signs of trouble ahead for the party’s unity and harmony reared its head when those who were said to have supported the election of Obaseki in 2016 were shut out of the political governance of the state by the same party they labored and worked to enthrone.

The lack of political patronage and the inability of Obaseki’s government to strike a balance between governance and managing the political class, created a wide gulf between the party’s hierarchy and majority of it followers.

Those who could not cope with and are dissatisfied with the political and governance leadership style of Obaseki defected in droves to the opposition PDP, a development which political pundits described as ‘signs of danger ahead’.

Many of the aggrieved party faithful had blamed the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole for convincing them in 2016 to back the candidacy of Obaseki instead of Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi or former deputy governor Pius Odubu.

The aggrieved party members were said to have vowed to disgrace the governor at his senatorial district and council for taking their support for granted.

It was gathered that prior to the presidential election, intelligence report available to top APC party and government hierarchy in the state had indicated that the APC will lose the presidential election to the PDP.

The party was said to have ignored the report and was confident that the visible achievements of the governor will translate to victory for the party in the state.

The party’s leadership was said to have underrated the threats and complain of members of the party even as elections drew nearer.

Osaro Ighodalo, an APC supporter said what happened during the presidential and national assembly election in the state would have been total disaster for the ruling APC in the state if not for the last minutes caucus meeting hurriedly summoned by Oshiomhole to further assuage the pain of party’s faithful before the elections.

“What do you think would happen if the elections were not postponed by one week which gave room for the APC in the state to call a meeting of party stakeholders?, asked rhetorically. “How do you expect to win when logistics came few hours to the elections? Even the candidates themselves were starved of funds by the governor and even when logistics came, it was late.

“What happened was not because the PDP as it were can defeat the APC especially in Edo South but what you saw was a protest vote against the governor for taking us for granted and if the trend continues I’m afraid the state assembly election will follow the same trend. If APC had won, the governor would have taken the glory. We only hope the party learns from it. It is shameful this is happening.”

However, the party’s leadership in a bid to avoid a repeat of what transpired especially in the governor’s stronghold, has blamed the loss on organized sabotage by some leaders who were bent on disgracing Governor Obaseki in Oredo, his local government area.

Some of the leaders a day to the election were said to have met some PDP mobilizers and handed over logistics with the instruction to vote against the APC, a promise they executed to the later thereby seeing the PDP triumph.

The perpetrators of the plans mainly from Edo South are said to have waited patiently to take their pound of flesh from the governor for disregarding them.

Rising Against The Odds

In a quick bid to avoid any further political misfortune, the governor had summoned a meeting of party stakeholders to re-stragized ahead of the 9th March governorship and state assembly elections. However, there is no governorship election in Edo State till 2020.

For the APC to have a smooth sail, it must battle to maintain a comfortable lead in the state assembly by winning all or majority of the seats to sustain its programmes and policies.

The meeting was said to have offered opportunity for the party to identify areas and loopholes to avoid a repeat of the negative outcome of the presidential and national assembly elections.

Shortly after, the Deputy Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, and other party leaders in celebration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory, led a rally around Benin City to shore up support for the party and urged members and supporters of the APC in the state, to come out en masse and vote for the party’s House of Assembly candidates.

“I urge Edo people to come out en masse on March 9, 2019, to vote for candidates of the APC to help the government consolidate on its achievement by passing bills that would enable us accomplish more for all Edo people and residents,” the deputy governor pleaded.

Shaibu who represented Governor Obaseki at the rally, explained that “a parliament that is dominated by APC legislators will cooperate with the governor and support the people-centred programmes of the party such as infrastructural development that will grow the economy and put smiles on the faces of Edo people.”

He cited the cooperation of the current assembly with the executive arm of government, which he said has led to progress and development in the state.

On Buhari’s victory, the deputy governor said: “It means freedom for Nigerians and victory for the people of Edo State who should be ready to enjoy more dividends of democracy in the state.

“The President is a friend and father of the state. We need his support in the infrastructural and economic development of the state. Our president is not partisan when it comes to the development of Nigeria and the wellbeing of Nigerians. He has helped all the states of the federation with bailout funds to enable those that were owing their workers settle salary arrears.”

Despite the outcome, governor Obaseki is confident that the APC still remain a darling party for the Edo people following the outcome of the presidential elections in the state.

In an apparent response to those who mocked the governor for failing to deliver the senate and two house of representatives seats to the party, a statement by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said that the state’s performance in the 2019 election is an improvement on its performance in the 2015 elections.

According to him, “With the results out, it is obvious that there is a growing acceptance of the APC in the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state. The margins show that we have considerably closed the gap here. The outcome of the polls turned out to be better than the previous one held in the state in 2015.”

The governor’s aide said that a comparison of the results shows that in 2019, PDP polled 275,691, and the APC got 267,842; while in 2015, the PDP scored 286,869 against APC’s 208,469 in the presidential election.

“In 2015, the margin of defeat was 78400 votes, but in 2019, it dropped by 90 per cent to 7849 votes. This is a considerable improvement on the party’s performance,” he added.

He assured that a better feat will be recorded in the March 9 gubernatorial and house of assembly elections, adding that the state government is growing towards a people-oriented political culture, which is good for democracy.

According to him, “We appreciate the people of Edo for coming out en masse to cast their votes and for aligning with the vision of returning President Muhammadu Buhari, and we wish to congratulate them for the party’s strong showing.”


https://www.google.com/amp/s/leadership.ng/2019/03/02/edo-apc-underlying-factors-to-buharis-loss-in-edo/amp/

If not for rigging, buhari won't see the needed 25℅ in Edo state.

I'm just so happy that joker didn't make the senate.

Ize iyamu sing handedly deliver his state for atiku and you still think he didn't win the 2016 election? If not for incumbent ize iyamu will flog oshiomole black and blue next year

the mouthed APC chairman lost his state.

he refused leading his state to the next level project

luckyelems:
the mouthed APC chairman lost his state.

don't mind the dwarf.

He has never won his state for his party in a federal level. I just pray PDP get it right in 2023 and I'll smile watching how oshiomole is humiliated

This guys are still wailing? Jeez
See them up...

Kyase:
This guys are still wailing? Jeez
See them up...

your party chairman couldn't delivered his State

uche secondus delivered rivers state to PDP

Kyase:
This guys are still wailing? Jeez
See them up...

I just tire bros. APC won 10 LGA's in Edo State while PDP won only 8 yet they're still here wailing. They should be more concerned that the margin was just about 8,000 votes compared to the about 60,000 votes margin in 2015. Anyway, lemme see how PDP would be able to win more than 4 House of Assembly seats in Edo State come next Saturday.

Beninmann:
your party chairman couldn't delivered his State

But he delivered the country, he even perform better than we expected from him.....

donphiilopus:


I just tire bros. APC won 10 LGA's in Edo State while PDP won only 8 yet they're still here wailing. They should be more concerned that the margin was just about 8,000 votes compared to the about 60,000 votes margin in 2015. Anyway, lemme see how PDP would be able to win more than 4 House of Assembly seats in Edo State come next Saturday.

11 years APC has been ruling the state, present and past chairman of the national party is and was from there and even at that oshiomole could not deliver his state with federal might and inec at his disposal.

Edo people are kings

donphiilopus:


I just tire bros. APC won 10 LGA's in Edo State while PDP won only 8 yet they're still here wailing. They should be more concerned that the margin was just about 8,000 votes compared to the about 60,000 votes margin in 2015. Anyway, lemme see how PDP would be able to win more than 4 House of Assembly seats in Edo State come next Saturday.

You know these guys, they will roaming around to seek what they will wail on....

donphiilopus:


I just tire bros. APC won 10 LGA's in Edo State while PDP won only 8 yet they're still here wailing. They should be more concerned that the margin was just about 8,000 votes compared to the about 60,000 votes margin in 2015. Anyway, lemme see how PDP would be able to win more than 4 House of Assembly seats in Edo State come next Saturday.

APC will win all States assembly seats thanks to rigging. It's expected

Kyase:

But he delivered the country, he even perform better than we expected from him.....

2023 he will meet his doom.

If APC field tinibu/el rufai, PDP will field tambuwal/udom.

Remembered buhari is the heart and soul of the party. Let's see who will have the last laugh

Beninmann:
11 years APC has been ruling the state, present and past chairman of the national party is and was from there and even at that oshiomole could not deliver his state with federal might and inec at his disposal.

Edo people are kings

You dunno what you're saying. Oshiomole delivered his Senatorial District for APC. Esans are sadists that have always rejected APC at federal level even when Onolemhemen, Ugbesia and Anenih did nothing for them. Obaseki couldn't deliver the whole of Edo South for APC even after delivering 4 out of the 7 LGA's in the State. Was Atiku able to deliver his unit and ward for himself? If no, why then are you blaming Oshiomole that delivered his unit, ward, local govt and senatorial district for Buhari?

Beninmann:
APC will win all States assembly seats thanks to rigging. It's expected

Then why couldn't they rig the Presidential election according to you?

donphiilopus:


You dunno what you're saying. Oshiomole delivered his Senatorial District for APC. Esans are sadists that have always rejected APC at federal level even when Onolemhemen, Ugbesia and Anenih did nothing for them. Obaseki couldn't deliver the whole of Edo South for APC even after delivering 4 out of the 7 LGA's in the State. Was Atiku able to deliver his unit and ward for himself? If no, why then are you blaming Oshiomole that delivered his unit, ward, local govt and senatorial district for Buhari?

why calling a particular tribe sadist(lalasticlala mynd44).

Don't worry power will soon change hands

Beninmann:
don't mind the dwarf.

He has never won his state for his party in a federal level. I just pray PDP get it right in 2023 and I'll smile watching how oshiomole is humiliated

you dont have shame, you are stil waiting for 2023. And you suppose to die by hunger before then, because your jobless lazy type can never get free money again

buhariguy:
you dont have shame, you are stil waiting for 2023. And you suppose to die by hunger before then, because your jobless lazy type can never get free money again

see this man, I'll never ever go broke even if 3 recession hit Nigeria again.

It's you people that beg around that we are pitying

Beninmann:
11 years APC has been ruling the state, present and past chairman of the national party is and was from there and even at that oshiomole could not deliver his state with federal might and inec at his disposal.

Edo people are kings

Donmedrac,aka binikingdown

My fellow binis dont like development, they are lazy, they want free things without working for it.

buhariguy:
My fellow binis dont like development, they are lazy, they want free things without working for it.

God forbid you are not Benin and will never be, our blood is pure and Royal.

You are s Muslim either from the South wastee or north(almajiri)

Beninmann:
If not for rigging, buhari won't see the needed 25℅ in Edo state.

I'm just so happy that joker didn't make the senate.

Ize iyamu sing handedly deliver his state for atiku and you still think he didn't win the 2016 election? If not for incumbent ize iyamu will flog oshiomole black and blue next year

Same old stories. He could not flog Oshiomole before when PDP still had some money left, is it now that they don't have the warchest he will defeat Oshiomole? Oshiomole has retired top god fathers in Edo politics.

luckyelems:
the mouthed APC chairman lost his state.

You deserve some accolades, meanwhile chop this knuckle

Beninmann:
see this man, I'll never ever go broke even if 3 recession hit Nigeria again.

It's you people that beg around that we are pitying

i love development more than sharing the money, even if i am hungry for one year, but i dont know why you love the party that kill my state for 8yrs, is it because of your personal gain, like pdp agent told me in eghosa gram sch where i voted, said he love pdp because of how he make money during lucky era, i just give up.

luckyelems:
he refused leading his state to the next level project

Not necessarily! Could be he was struggling to drag them to the next level, but like a stubborn horse they just refused to budge!