Former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has revealed that some governors opposed his continued stay as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) because they feared he might impose Bola Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 election.
Oshiomhole made the disclosure while speaking on 60 Minutes with Mr Kay on News Central, where he discussed the circumstances surrounding his tenure as APC national chairman.
According to the senator representing Edo North, several governors told him directly that they were concerned he might use his position to influence the party’s presidential ticket in favour of Tinubu, who was then regarded as a key leader of the party.
Reflecting on his time in office, Oshiomhole said his leadership was centred on defending the party’s constitution and ensuring that primary elections were conducted transparently.
He explained that his approach sometimes put him at odds with some governors who preferred a different style of leadership.
“Some people wanted me to adopt their style, but I couldn’t. I come from a labour background where democracy is based on numbers, not influence,” he said.
Oshiomhole also cited a disagreement with former Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, whom he accused of disregarding decisions of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
He explained that the party conducted governorship primaries in Ogun State which produced Dapo Abiodun as the APC candidate, but Amosun allegedly organised a parallel exercise that the party refused to recognise.
According to Oshiomhole, Amosun later backed candidates under another platform, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), during the election.
He said the NWC under his leadership issued Amosun a query for allegedly campaigning against the party. When the former governor failed to respond, he was subsequently suspended in line with the party’s constitution.
Oshiomhole maintained that some governors nevertheless expressed concerns that his continued leadership of the party could influence the selection of Tinubu as the APC’s presidential candidate.
He concluded by saying that a person’s achievements in life are ultimately determined not only by personal ambitions but by what God has destined.