Headline
Edo Guber: ‘Unwholesome Men Have Hijacked Party’, Buhari’s Ex-aide, Lauretta Onochie Laments
Former President Muhammadu Buhari’s ex-aide on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, has described the just-concluded All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship primary election in Edo State as a disgrace to the party.
Onochie lamented that some unwholesome men have hijacked the APC and now dictate who runs the party.
The primary election conducted to elect APC’s governorship candidate in the forthcoming election produced three different candidates.
Chairman of the primary election committee, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, declared Dennis Idahosa winner of the exercise while the Returning Officer for the primary, Stanley Ugboaja, declared Senator Monday Okpebholo as the APC candidate.
The crisis deepened on Sunday as Anamero Dekeri became the third aspirant to claim victory in Saturday’s governorship primary.
One Ojo Babatunde who said he was acting on behalf of all the local government returning officers, said that Dekeri polled 25,384 votes to win the contest.
However, posting on X, Onochie wrote: “APC must be different. I am so ashamed, embarrassed and scandalised by the disgraceful conduct of our APC in the Edo State Primary, where four Candidates have now emerged.
“We are Progressives, for heaven’s sake! This is what happens when a few unwholesome men hijack a political party and dictate who should run, taking that role from the people.
“Why is APC bent on keeping the South South a PDP territory? Each time we have an opportunity to field a winning candidate, PDP agents in APC ensure that APC fields an inferior candidate who does not stand a chance of winning the PDP candidate. It happened in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom.
“@OfficialAPCNg must recover our party from traders and work with core progressives in the region to give Nigerians in general and South South in particular, a decent alternative to the messed up PDP.
“At the moment, I look at the two political parties and APC is looking more like PDP than a Progressive political party.
“In conclusion, I believe that the current situation where women are excluded from leadership in APC, does the party no good. A situation where the National woman leader and state woman leaders are nominated by men, ensures that women are not adequately represented in the party. You can’t clap with one hand.
Tinubu, represented by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima at a formal reception in Uyo on Saturday, welcomed the governor and his supporters to the ruling party.
He pledged that Governor Eno would not be abandoned and would have no regrets about joining the APC.
According to Shettima, “The strength of any political party comes not from division, but from unity of purpose. We are here today because we understand that enduring power lies in standing together, not in isolation or internal strife.”
He emphasized that the APC is a party of the people, saying, “We believe in building bridges, not walls; in mending fences, not erecting new ones. Above all, we know that the strength of a political party lies in its people — the people are the party.”
Speaking directly to Governor Eno, Shettima added: “President Tinubu is a bridge-builder and a democrat. Your decision to join the APC is one you will never regret. You will not be humiliated or forsaken. You are home.”
Speaking through Ghana’s Finance Minister at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja on Saturday, President Mahama warned that economic integration and trade cannot thrive in an atmosphere of political instability.
“Trade cannot flourish where democracy is in retreat. Investment does not land where governance is broken.
“The recent wave of instability and military takeovers in our region is not just a security concern—it is an economic emergency. We must defend democracy as a prerequisite for prosperity.
“Let West African leaders recommit to constitutional order—not as an abstract ideal, but as a practical requirement for growth. We cannot unlock trade while our region is locked in conflict,” Mahama was quoted as saying.
In January 2025, ECOWAS formally acknowledged the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—now members of the Alliance of Sahel States—following tensions rooted in the 2023 Niger coup.
To this end, Mahama called for the creation of an ECOWAS Charter on Democratic Stability and Economic Development, linking good governance with access to regional investment support.
The president urged leaders to recommit to constitutional order as a practical foundation for development, rather than merely a political ideal.
Akpabio said this on Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital, during the official reception of Umo Eno to the APC.
“Governor Sheriff of Delta State thank you for joining the progressive family and moving the South South in a progressive direction.
“Governor Umo Eno, after you, Rivers State will just tumble, after Rivers State, Bayelsa will join.
“We won election with Governor Otu in Edo State and we produced an amiable Monday Okpebholo, congratulations once again for your victory.”
In April, Eno had hinted at leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for APC.
The governor had blamed the internal crisis within the PDP for his decision to leave the party for APC.
-
Entertainment4 years agoBBNaija: “Shameful For A Married Woman” – Boma, Tega Doing ‘Stuff’ Under Duvet Sparks Outrage (See Video)
-
Entertainment3 years agoSinger, Oxlade In Big Mess After His Sex Tape With A Strange Lady Surfaces Online (Watch Video)
-
Entertainment5 years agoBBNaija: Kiddwaya Sucks Erica’s Boobs, Licks Dorathy’s Neck In Truth Or Dare Game (Video)
-
Entertainment2 years agoI’m Not Ashamed Of My Leaked Nude Photos, Ifunanya Confesses (See Photos)
-
Entertainment5 years agoI’m Not Sick But Only Lost Some Weight – Kiss Daniel
-
Entertainment4 years agoHow Women Should Act During Sex – Actress, Blessing Okoro Reveals (Vdeo)
-
Opinion6 years agoOniru Of Iruland: The Making Of A Successor
-
Sports6 years agoEPL Epic Kickoff: How Teams Will Finish In 2019-2020 Season