Governor urges APC Aspirants to hold back on nomination forms
Governor urges APC Aspirants to hold back on nomination forms 
Fresh political signals are emerging from Edo State, where Governor Monday Okpebholo is reportedly advising aspirants of the All Progressives Congress to slow down on purchasing nomination forms for the forthcoming State House of Assembly primaries.
According to unconfirmed but widely circulated reports from party insiders, the governor recently met with Local Government Area party chairmen and prospective House of Assembly aspirants at the Government House in Benin City. During the meeting, he allegedly urged them to exercise patience and refrain from rushing to obtain nomination and expression of interest forms until broader consultations with party stakeholders are concluded.
The reported directive comes at a critical moment, as the APC had already scheduled the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms between April 25 and May 2, 2026, with submission deadlines set for May 4. Under the party’s guidelines, aspirants seeking seats in the State House of Assembly are required to pay a total of ₦6 million—₦1 million for the expression of interest form and ₦5 million for the nomination form.
Political observers say the governor’s alleged position may reflect ongoing internal strategy discussions within the party, particularly around the method of selecting candidates. Some analysts believe the development suggests hesitation about proceeding immediately with a direct primary process, which allows all registered party members to vote. Instead, the leadership may be weighing alternative approaches or seeking consensus among influential party blocs before finalizing the list of aspirants.
The situation has also drawn attention because many aspirants across several constituencies in Edo State have not yet publicly obtained their forms, despite the official sales window already being open. This unusual delay has fueled speculation that internal alignments and negotiations are still underway behind the scenes.
Party loyalists, however, caution that the reports remain unofficial and should not be interpreted as a final policy decision. They argue that consultations are a routine part of political planning and are often necessary to prevent internal disputes, manage expectations, and maintain party unity ahead of competitive primaries.
As the timeline for the primaries approaches, attention is now focused on the next moves by party leadership in Edo State. Whether the party proceeds with the scheduled process or adjusts its strategy following consultations could significantly shape the political landscape and determine the emergence of candidates for the State House of Assembly elections.
IBN NEWS
