Former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Crosby Osadolor Eribo, has warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) risks electoral backlash ahead of the 2027 general elections over what he described as the absence of a proper reward system within the party.
Eribo also disclosed how Governor Monday Okpeholo and other APC leaders allegedly prevailed on him to withdraw from the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency ticket during the party’s primaries in the interest of peace and unity.
Speaking on Friday in Benin City while assessing the conduct of the APC primaries in Edo State, Eribo said he only stepped aside after a passionate appeal from the governor and members of the state party hierarchy.
According to him, the meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, APC Deputy Chairman Sylvester Aigboboh, Lawrence Okah, and other party leaders.
“I made it clear that I was not stepping down for anybody. I only withdrew because of the governor’s appeal. There is a clear difference between stepping down and withdrawing. Stepping down means your opponent is better than you, but withdrawal was done in the interest of party peace,” he said.
The former lawmaker, however, expressed concern that loyal party members who had sacrificed for the APC over the years were being sidelined, warning that such treatment could trigger voter apathy and electoral losses in 2027.
“Where is the reward system in APC? Those of us who sacrificed, suffered persecution and stood firm for the party are being ignored, while people who did not build the party are benefiting,” he said.
“If APC fails to address this injustice and hypocrisy in the system, we will have serious electoral problems in 2027,” he added.
Eribo also called for urgent reconciliation within the party’s Edo South structure, particularly between former governorship aspirant Osagie Ize-Iyamu and former House of Representatives member Ogbeide Ihama, warning that unresolved tensions could destabilise the party ahead of future elections.
He further stressed that Edo South lacked a unifying political figure, noting that divisions among key leaders had created a leadership vacuum in the zone.
On agitation over rotation of the Egor Federal House of Representatives seat, Eribo argued that the position should move to Egor Local Government after Ikpoba-Okha had held it for over two decades.
Despite his concerns, he insisted he would remain in the APC, adding that “the party remains supreme,” while urging its leadership to embrace fairness, inclusion and loyalty recognition to strengthen its electoral prospects.
