LG polls: Edo APC stakeholders tackle Tenebe’s automatic ticket’ remarks

The Edo APC Concern Stakeholders have urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to rein in the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarrett Tenebe, over what they described as divisive comments regarding the upcoming local government elections.

In a statement signed by Hon. Abdullahi Abubakar on Tuesday, the group criticized Tenebe for allegedly pledging automatic tickets to those who ran in the 2023 council polls under former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

“The attention of the Edo APC Concern Stakeholders has been drawn to a statement credited to the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, where he was quoted as saying that the party will ‘reward’ those who contested the 2023 chairmanship election under Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration with automatic ticket in the forthcoming Edo State Local Government election.

“We consider this statement reckless, divisive, and capable of undermining the collective will of our great party. The duty of the State Chairman is to provide leadership in line with the constitution of our party, not to arrogate to himself powers that clearly do not belong to his office,” the group said.

The stakeholders stressed that no APC state chairman had ever possessed unilateral authority to pick candidates at the grassroots, pointing out that such decisions have always rested with the governor, working in tandem with local leaders.

“It is important to set the record straight: at no point in the history of our party in Edo State, including during the tenure of Governor Godwin Obaseki, was the State Chairman vested with the authority to unilaterally determine who gets the ticket of our party at the local government level. Such decisions remain the prerogative of the Governor, as leader of the party in the state, working in synergy with the various local government leaders and stakeholders,” the statement noted.

The group called on Okpebholo to intervene quickly to prevent internal divisions.

“We therefore call on the Governor of Edo State and leader of the APC in the state, Senator Monday Okpebholo, to immediately call the State Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, to order before his overbearing attitude causes unnecessary division and disaffection within the ranks of our party. We cannot have two governors in one state. It is the Governor and the party leaders who have the prerogative power to decide who gets the party’s ticket, not the state chairman,” it added.

Reaffirming their commitment to party unity, the group warned against imposing candidates and pressed for a transparent selection process.

“Our great party, the APC, must not be seen as one that rewards political mercenaries or disregards the structures and leaders at the grassroots. Local government elections are too important to be treated with levity or personal interest. Every genuine party member who has labored for the success of the APC in Edo deserves a fair and transparent process, not the imposition of individuals through the backdoor.

“The Edo APC Concern Stakeholders hereby reaffirm our commitment to a united, disciplined, and winning APC in Edo State. We urge all members to remain vigilant, focused, and committed to the ideals of our party and the transformation agenda of our Governor Sen. Monday Okpebholo as we prepare for the forthcoming local government elections,” the statement concluded.