Former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has been warned that he risks being disgraced if he pushes ahead with his plan to contest the Edo North senatorial seat.
Handing out the ominous warning is a group rooting for the incumbent Senator Francis Alimikhena.
“Oshiomhole should not allow himself to be dragged into Edo North Senatorial race and be disgraced at the end of the day”, Team Alimikhena said
Team Alimikhena in a statement on Thursday by convener Sunny Ifijen and secretary Omeiza Ogumah, expressed fear of a repeat of what happened in the 2020 governorship election where party members worked at cross-purposes.
“To yield to the desire of some self- seeking individuals, may cost him the respect his supporters accord him.
The group warned that Oshiomhole’s bid has polarized the party in Edo North and pitted Oshiomhole’s supporters against Alimikhena’s.
The group said although members of the party in the senatorial district accept Oshiomhole’s leadership, they reject his aspiration for the senatorial seat.
The people want the incumbent Senator Alimikhena back in the senate to compensate him for his wonderful work and for keeping the party together in the district.
The group called on the former APC national chairman to take the back stage and continue with his kingmakers role rather than contest in the 2023 general election.
“Just like they convinced him against the wish of the masses, to field the incumbent governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki in the 2016 who later turned out to be albatross to the party leadership and its supporters, they have started in their selfish ways.
“They have opened their fangs again to destroy the peace that has existed in the party in Edo North by trying to convince Oshiomhole to dethrone a performing Senator in the person of Francis Alimikhena.
“They are not just bent on convincing the former governor to run, but they are trying in an unusual way to sow seed of discord in the harmonious relationship the two have shared over years.
“To me, this unnecessary bickering and distrust that have rare its head because of this selfish persons can be put to rest if Oshiomhole decline to yield to their selfish demands.
“Indeed, Oshiomhole’s leadership role in the party, especially in Edo north, has been the largely responsible why the party remains strong in the district and must not throw this away without stopping to reason what the effect of this demand would cost the party,” the group said.
Oshiomhole announced his desire to contest for the Edo north senatorial seat last Monday during his 70th birthday party at his country home in Iyamoh, Etsako west local government area.
The announcement came after several months of speculation that he was warming up to unseat incumbent Senator Francis Alimikhena.
This had heated up the Edo north politics and also pitted the supporters of both Alimikhena and Oshiomhole against each other.
