Former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Crosby Osadolor Eribo, said the All Progressive Congress (APC) risks electoral backlash due to what he described as “the lack of a reward system.”

He also revealed how Governor Monday Okpeholo and APC leaders allegedly prevailed on him to withdraw from the  Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency ticket to allow another aspirant emerge during the party’s primaries.

Eribo who stated this on Friday in Benin City while assessing the conduct of the APC primaries,  said he agreed to withdraw in the interest of peace and party unity after a passionate appeal by the governor and members of the state party hierarchy.

According to him, the meeting was attended by the deputy governor  Dennis Idahosa; APC deputy chairman, Sylvester Aigboboh, Lawrence Okah and other party leaders.

He said, “I made it clear that I was not stepping down for anybody. I only withdrew because of the governor’s appeal. There is a clear difference between stepping down and withdrawing. Stepping down means your opponent is better than you, but withdrawal was done in the interest of party peace.”

The former lawmaker, however, lamented what he described as the absence of a reward system within the APC, warning that the development could trigger voters apathy and electoral losses for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said loyal party members who made sacrifices for the APC over the years had continued to suffer neglect despite risking their lives during the party’s difficult periods.

“Where is the reward system in APC? Those of us who sacrificed, suffered persecution and stood firm for the party are being ignored, while people who did not build the party are benefiting. If APC fails to address this injustice and hypocrisy in the system, we will have serious electoral problems in 2027,” he warned.

Speaking on the Edo South Senatorial crisis, Eribo urged the APC leadership to urgently reconcile former governorship aspirant, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and former House of Representatives member, Ogbeide Ihama, insisting that the dispute over the senatorial ticket could destabilize the party if not properly managed before the next general election.

He cautioned party leaders against undermining Ize-Iyamu, describing him as a formidable political force in Edo South.

“Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a known political factor and cannot be pushed aside. You cannot talk about Edo South politics without him. The leadership of the party must quickly settle the matter between him and Ogbeide Ihama before it escalates,” he said.

Eribo also decried what he termed the lack of a unifying political figure in Edo South, noting that the inability of key leaders such as Ize-Iyamu and former Deputy Governor Pius Odubu to work together had created leadership vacuum in the zone.

According to him, Edo South urgently needs a rallying point capable of mobilising party faithful ahead of future elections.

On agitation over political marginalisation in Egor, Eribo maintained that the Federal House of Representatives seat ought to rotate to the local government after Ikpoba-Okha had held it for over two decades.

He said although many of his supporters felt aggrieved over the outcome of the primaries, he had resolved to remain in the APC, stressing that “the party remains supreme,” while urging the leadership to embrace fairness, inclusion and reward loyalty to strengthen the party ahead of 2027.