By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State and a House of Representatives aspirant for the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha federal constituency in the just concluded primary election of the party has lamented the lack of inadequate reward system for members of the party who have been loyal to its ideals and principles.

This he said could lead to backlash in the 2027 general election if the post primary election crisis in the party is not well managed.

Eribo withdrew from the contest to pave way for the emergence a preferred aspirant, a decision he said was inevitable after being approached by Governor Monday Okpebholo himself as the Leader of the party.

The former member of the Edo State House of Assembly and council chairman also rued the preference for another person other than Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu for the Edo South Senatorial District saying that loyal party members who made sacrifices for the APC over the years have continued to suffer neglect despite risking their lives during the party’s difficult periods.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City, he said “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. If APC fails to address this injustice and hypocrisy in the system, we will have serious electoral problems in 2027.

“Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a known political factor and cannot be pushed aside. You cannot talk about Edo South politics without him. The leadership of the party must quickly settle the matter between him and Ogbeide Ihama before it escalates,” he said.

Eribo also decried what he termed the lack of a unifying political figure in Edo South, noting that the inability of key leaders such as Ize-Iyamu and former Deputy Governor Pius Odubu to work together had created a leadership vacuum in the zone.

He said although many of his supporters felt aggrieved over the outcome of the primaries, he had resolved to remain in the APC, stressing that “the party remains supreme,” while urging the leadership to embrace fairness, inclusion and reward loyalty to strengthen the party ahead of 2027.