Information emerging from the grapevine as per the 2026 Council polls in Edo State slated for July 11, 2026, is that there are grumblings in the ranks of aspirants of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in all the 18 council areas of the state as those tagged the “aborigines” (old) and the new faces(defectors) slug it out to determine who gets the prized party tickets to contest the polls.
Councils said to be most hit in this regards are Uhunmwode, Oredo, Etsako West, Etsako Central, Owan West, Owan East, Esan West, Esan South East, Egor, Ovia North East and Esan North East.
What’s said to be causing the confusion in the ranks of party members is the fact that some individuals who just defected to the APC are holding firm to the belief that the council chairmanship slot should be made open to them irrespective of their new status as APC members as they have a better chance of winning the polls based on the political weight they wield in their erstwhile parties before their defection to the APC.
Some of the factors these new members count on in their favour is that they have the backing of some political godfathers whose interest on who they support to become council chairman cannot be wished away for whatever reason.
As you’re reading this underground scheming is the order of the day as the aspirants get set for mid November when the primaries is slated to be held.
“Who does that?! Barely a year ago these people coming out from no where were giving us a bloody nose with their torgba slogan. Telling us that we stand no chance to win any elective position in Edo State politics.
“Now, seeing the handwriting on the wall they have crawled their way from the opposition parties mainly PDP and LP to the party in power(APC). What they now scheme to achieve is to get to the councils chairmanship position through the backdoor.
“I think something should be done to curb their schemings. The APC should make a law that no one who just joined the party less than a year ago should be allowed to contest the council chairmanship primaries coming up in November.
“This will sound as a way of rewarding party loyalty. If this is not adopted we will end up giving disloyal, pretentious party men an easy avenue to grab power via the back door,” a reliable source divulged.
It is a known occurrence that councils polls, which are conducted by the states electoral commissions, are usually won by the party ruling such state.
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