The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has reclaimed its party secretariat in Benin City, four years after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the backing of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, forcefully took it over. The APC made this announcement on Thursday, declaring victory in a long-standing battle over the property.
Victory and Promise Fulfilled by APC Chairman
Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, wasted no time in stating that the secretariat rightfully belonged to the APC. According to him, the party had renewed the rent for a seven-year term before the PDP took control.
“About four years ago, APC made a concerted effort to extend the lease of this building, which has always been our party’s office. If you check Google, you will still see this secretariat listed as the APC’s office,” Tenebe remarked.
The APC chairman described the situation as a power grab by the PDP when Obaseki defected to the opposition party. He claimed, “They used force to evict us from the secretariat, destroyed our property, and seized our vehicles.” Tenebe recounted the party’s unsuccessful attempt to reclaim the property, even after reporting the matter to the Inspector General of Police. The state Commissioner of Police, working with Obaseki, allegedly blocked the effort.
Upon assuming office as the APC chairman, Tenebe promised to recover all properties that had been unlawfully taken from the party. “On the day I became chairman, I promised two things: first, to ensure that the APC regains control of the state, and second, to recover all properties taken from the APC,” he said. He celebrated the recent victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo in the governorship election as part of fulfilling his first promise, with the recovery of the secretariat marking the second.
Plans for the Secretariats Future
Tenebe also expressed his excitement, declaring that the day marked the happiest moment of his life. He promised to remodel the secretariat into the official style of the APC and vowed to resist any attempts by other groups to seize the property. “We will not allow anyone to displace us from our property or any of our assets,” he asserted.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Ben Abang, along with senior officers, visited the secretariat to assess the situation and held discussions with the APC leadership. Meanwhile, the State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, was escorted off the premises by the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku.
Bottom Line
For now, the APC stands victorious, but this secretariat battle is only one chapter in the larger ongoing fight between the PDP and APC in Edo State.
