By Nosa Idemudia
There is palpable tension in the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State over the mismanagement of funds for the gubernatorial election of the party’s candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, it has been gathered.
A source close to the party’s candidate disclosed that Okpebholo and a leader of the party in the State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu came to a near fisticuff, on Monday, over the way and manner Ize-Iyamu has been dispensing funds for the campaign.
The source who pleaded anonymity said Okpebholo is worried that Ize-Iyamu’s only interest is the funds for the campaign and not the victory of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
“The way and manner Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has been dispensing funds for the campaigns has not been quite satisfactory and this has been a cause of major concern for our candidate, Monday Okpebholo. The duo came to a near fisticuff over the matter. It was a scene that wasn’t so pleasing for us as friends of Okpebholo and supporters of APC,” the source said.
According to him, “The APC candidate is worried that Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s only interest and concern is the funds for the campaign and not his victory or that of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for September 21, 2024. This he claims is the reason why Ize-Iyamu has been aggressive in positioning himself for the candidate.”
“We all know Ize-Iyamu antecedent in politics. Someone who pocketed monies for his own election. The records are there. How do you think he will handle the funds for another person’s election? That man has no genuine intentions and that is why Okpebholo is really worried.
“The candidate has been moving to different leaders on the matter. He has also met with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other national leaders of the party to call Ize-Iyamu to order over his fixation on campaign funds.
“I really don’t know how long this will be on but the situation is rather unfortunate and the APC at the national must act immediately before Pastor Ize-Iyamu jeopardizes our party’s chances at the forthcoming gubernatorial election for his own selfish interest,” he charged.
