Members of the Esan West Local Government chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are divided over the list of commissioner-nominees.

In a protest letter dated November 21, 2024, addressed to the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo through the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Musa Umar Ikhilor, the petitioners opined that the list submitted to the governor do not reflect the five kingdoms that make up the local government.

The petition titled, “Re: Nomination of five names from Esan West Local Government” was written by the party’s leaders from the ten wards in the locality.

They listed the five kingdoms as Ekpoma, Idoa, Ogwa, Ujogba, and Egoro.

They alleged that the nomination was done by Mr. Thomas Okosun, the former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and one-time State chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and Mr. David Imuse, the former state chairman of APC.

The petitioners also alleged that the nomination was done without consulting the leadership of the party in the local government as done in other Local Government Areas in the state.

The signatories to the petition are Chief Edwin Ogieriakhi, Chief Saturday Ogbeide, Hon. Abu Momodu, Mr. Visly Udaze, Chief Festus Ozoba, Mr. Wesley Oran, Mr. Sam Akhigbe, Chief Ikpea Ojie, Joe Aise Aisdion and Hon. Monday Ehighawa.

They also alleged that two of the nominees included a female, simply identified as Mrs Ogbidi, a wife to chairman of the party, while the other nominee, Pastor Odigie is a pastor in Thomas Okosun’s Church.

While noting that the selection of the nominees does not reflect the spread in the Local Government, they opined that it was contrary to the usual practice when one person was being nominated from each of the kingdoms.

According to the petitioners, “we the concerned leaders of Esan West Local Government wish to register our protest against the list of commissioner nominees from Esan West Local Government.

“Firstly, the nomination was done by Mr. Thomas Okosun and Mr. Imuse without consulting the leadership of the Local Government as it was done in other Local Governments.

“Secondly, the list is made up of his relations and friends. For example, the female in the list is Mrs. Ogbidi the party chairman’s wife and Mr. Governor’s greatest critic, while Pastor Odigie is Thomas Okosun’s church pastor.

“Also, the selection did not reflect the spread in the Local Government as Esan West is made up of 5 kingdoms namely, Ekpoma, Idoa, Ogwa, Ujogba, and Egoro.

“Our usual practice is to select one nominee from each of the kingdoms but in this case, all the nominees are from Ekpoma kingdom.”

The party leaders, who posited that the list was capable of bringing division within the party in the locality, called on Governor Okpebholo to set aside the list for the sake of justice.