2023: Akoko Edo APC In Tatters Over Reps Member 4th Term Bid

TENSION is currently brewing in Akoko Edo local government chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) where it has been alleged that a 3rd timer and deputy majority leader of the house of representatives Hon Peter Akpatason is nursing ambition to return to the green chambers for a record 4th term amounting to 16 years. This is particularly an issue of interest when considered from the angle that Akoko Edo LGA is the largest and oldest LGA in Edo State with very little opportunities and options for politicians and public office holders.

Hon Akpatason was first elected in 2011 and has already spent 11 years in the saddle. In 2019 he was appointed as deputy Majority leader of the Federal House of Representatives a position he has used to attract projects into the LGA to the admiration of all. However his opponents insists that his performance is less than salutary as he took him 12 years to attract meaningful projects to the LGA compared to 1st timers such as Hon Dennis Idahosa and Prof Julius Ihonvbere who have gone extra mile to break the sealing for their people within two to three years of being in the same house of representatives.

Furthermore, the APC chieftains Trojan.com.ng spoke to argues that the only position they rotate in Akoko Edo between the north and south is chairmanship and that of House of Representatives but that today only one ward and one person has monopolized the position of House of Representatives for 12 years now which is a negation of the principles of rotation, fairness and equality.

According to a retired principal Mr Ogbodo in Igarra a member of APC said “if its about perfomance he is doing well after third terms, if its about rotation Akpatason has completely canceled the principles of zoning as was applied during the period of Col Akogun who spent only two terms, and that is why you could see people like the former chief of staff indicating interest instead of just constituency 1 aspirants. This is very unfortunate”, he concluded.

Meanwhile indications are that within the APC alone there are over five aspirants including two women that have indicated interest in taking over Akpatason’s job, prominent amongst them is Taiwo Akerele a world bank trained economist and former chief of staff who made history in Nigeria to be among very few top cabinet members to resign from office on account of principles. According to Mr Gbekele Afe who spoke to our correspondence in Ojah, said “left for me others are just joking, Akerele used his position to help alot of people while he was working with the world bank SEEFOR project and did a lot of roads while he was Chief of Staff if we know what we are doing as a people it’s tested people like that we should send to represent us in Abuja but you will still see or hear people talking different things, that is akoko edo for you”.

Investigation indicates that one Joy Billy Akande is also pulling weight due to the help she has rendered to alot of people in the area of job creation etc while little is unknown of one Johnson Afegason who is said to be an Abuja based oil and gas merchant.

As it stands, Akerele and Joy Billy Akande and one Johnson are the only established threats against Hon Akpatason emergence in APC and this poses a dilemma for the party delegates and leaders. While majority presses for rotation for fairness, it was discovered from our investigation that the call for  Akpatason to return to the green chambers is coming mostly from the wards that are supposed to be beneficiary of the rotation. However, Mr Ogbodo countered that argument and insisted that those are sponsored social media agitation which is not a true reflection of the situation on ground.

Investigation indicates that Comrade Oshiomole and other leaders are worried about the situation in Akoko Edo, the source who spoke to Trojan.com.ng in confidence said Oshiomole as an advocate of justice and fairness and has to chose between sticking to Akpatason as against the general interest of Akoko Edo people.

“We are aware of how this same zoning issue nearly cost us the 2019 elections due to the crisis between Adjoto and the same Akpatason, moreover, secondly how do you comvince Akerele not to run after the huge sacrifice of resigning his position as chief of staff to stick with the APC after the Governor tried to kill the party in the state which still led to the removal of Oshiomole.

And you could see the way they delivered for the party and Ize Iyamu in that local government. It was total.

Its a tough call my brother the source”, concluded.

Meanwhile, sources said that if APC goes ahead to give its ticket to Hon Akpatason or any other person from the south, and PDP gives it ticket to Hon Adjoto or another person from the Okpameri axis of the LGA which controls four wards, then we should expect serious votes against the APC.

Efforts to speak to Hon Akpatason to confirm his 4th term bid proof futile but sources in his office in Abuja confirm to Trojan.com.ng that the bid is aimed at attracting more development to Akoko Edo since the State Government has completely abandoned the LGA to its fate.

 When asked about the issue of zoning, he said “as you can see, zoning is not an issue when it comes to legislative business and ranking” on other bids he said we shall meet at the field we are ready for them.

Efforts to speak with Akerele was not successful as well as he said to be busy with a national assignment in Maiduguri Borno state. However, sources close to him insist that though he has not told anybody he is running aside the social media flyers we saw flying over the internet recently, he is eminently qualified to run as he has consistently demonstrated capacity in all assignments given to him in the executive arm of government and now the people want him in the green chambers, he is also youthful the source argued.

When we tried to reach Johnson Afegason he was not accessible but we learnt he is in charge of the APC LGA executive having triumphed over Akpatason during the LGA congress held in 2021 and that though he is a quite aspirant, he is a huge threat especially being the only Okpameri son who has indicated interest.

Akoko Edo APC primaries will be an interesting case study especially with the quality of aspirants that are ready to slug it out.

More details will emerge.