The Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Emperor Jarret Tenebe, has dismissed rumours of a rift between him and national leader Senator Adams Oshiomhole, insisting that Governor Monday Okpebholo remains the undisputed leader of the party in the state.
Tenebe made the clarification on Sunday while addressing journalists at his residence in Benin City.
He assured party members that the APC would conduct rancour-free ward, local government, and state congresses, expressing confidence in emerging as substantive state chairman after serving in a caretaker capacity following the resignation of his predecessor, Col. David Imuse (rtd.), who stepped down to contest the 2024 governorship election.
Addressing speculation about internal disagreements, Tenebe said the party leadership in Edo is united and focused on consolidating its recent electoral victory.
“The leader of the party in Edo State is the Governor, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo. There have been insinuations that Senator Adams Oshiomhole and I are not working together, but that is very far from the truth,” he stated.
He explained that their only disagreement occurred during the party primaries when he insisted on due process.
“I pushed for what I believed was right, and once that was resolved, we all moved on. After the primaries, we campaigned together, we won together, and since then we have continued to work together. There are absolutely no cracks on the wall,” Tenebe added.
On the forthcoming congresses, the APC chairman said he did not expect a change in leadership, describing the current party structure as a winning team.
“I have been acting, and this will be my first term as substantive chairman. I do not think the party will change a team that has delivered success. Our next task is to support the government to succeed. As party chairman, it is my duty to stand with the governor, defend him, and ensure that he delivers the dividends of democracy promised to the people,” he said.
Tenebe also gave insight into how the party plans to deliver 3.5 million votes to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
According to him, the target is achievable through massive mobilisation, defections from opposition parties, and increased voter participation.
“By next week, we expect to receive all Labour Party local government chairmen into the APC. We have also held meetings with 16 PDP local government chairmen who are defecting. If you look closely, the opposition has already collapsed,” he claimed.
He added that an analysis of the voters’ register showed Edo State has about three million registered voters, many of whom currently reside outside the state.
“I have been travelling across the country to meet Edo people who registered at home, encouraging them to return during the election. We have also concluded plans with donors to provide logistics to bring them back,” Tenebe said.
The Edo APC chairman’s comments come amid ongoing political realignments in the state following Governor Okpebholo’s victory in the 2024 governorship election and recent defections to the ruling party.
