“We Reject Lucky Imasuen’s Leadership” — Ovia North East APC Leaders

By Reporter

Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ovia North East Local Government Area have rejected the leadership style of a former Chief of Staff to Governor Lucky Igbinedion, Chief Lucky Imasuen.

They accused him of running the party’s local chapter like a sole administrator and also questioned his ties to the local government area.

In a petition addressed to Governor Monday Okpebholo, signed by 25 leaders on behalf of others across the 13 wards of the local government area, the group accused Imasuen of converting the APC in their area into his personal estate.

They emphasized that their concern centers on the risk of allowing a single individual to determine the fate of the entire local government, which, according to them, undermines the party’s collective leadership structure. They described the situation as “unfair and unreasonable in a democratic setting.”

“As we approach the forthcoming presidential election, the unity and commitment of party members at the grassroots level will be crucial to achieving electoral success,” the petition stated.

The leaders’ concerns, Midwest Herald gathered, are timely, as they alleged that Lucky Imasuen lost his unit, ward, and Ovia North East in the governorship election that brought Senator Monday Okpebholo to power.

They also drew the governor’s attention to what they described as Imasuen’s political migration from Egor to Ovia North East. “You may not be aware that Lucky Imasuen started his political career in Egor Local Government Area, and when he became politically irrelevant, he transitioned to an established structure in Ovia North East Local Government Area,” they stated.

The petition, titled “Petition for Transparency, Inclusiveness, and Internal Party Democracy in Ovia North East Local Government Area,” reads in part: “We, the undersigned leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, respectfully write to draw your attention to developments within our party structure that threaten unity, fairness, and the long-standing democratic traditions of our party in the locality.

“Our intention is not to create division within the party but to safeguard its integrity, cohesion, and electoral strength. As loyal party members who have contributed immensely to the party’s growth and success over the years, we consider it our responsibility to bring these concerns to your attention.

“Sir, we are deeply concerned about how the affairs of the party in Ovia North East are currently being handled by Chief Lucky Imasuen. Several decisions affecting the political structure of the local government appear to have been taken unilaterally, without consultation with established party leaders and stakeholders.

“Specifically, the selection of ward councillors, supervisory councillors, and other strategic political appointments is widely believed to have been carried out without meaningful consultation with long-standing party leaders.

“These leaders have consistently laboured to ensure the party’s electoral success, yet their experience and input appear to have been ignored in the current decision-making process.

“Furthermore, it is troubling that there has been little or no effort to convene leadership meetings to discuss critical political issues affecting the local government. Political parties thrive on consultation, dialogue, and collective decision-making, and the absence of such engagement undermines internal democracy.

“The implications of this situation extend beyond internal dissatisfaction. When a single individual exercises excessive authority over party structures and candidate selection without consulting other stakeholders, it breeds marginalization and weakens party unity.

“We are particularly concerned about the forthcoming local government chairmanship election. At one point, about 23 aspirants from Ovia North East indicated interest in contesting. However, it appears none has been considered, as reports suggest that a preferred candidate—allegedly a close associate who recently returned from abroad and has not actively participated in party activities—has been positioned without adequate consultation.

“This development has generated significant concern among party leaders and members, especially as the individual is largely unknown to many stakeholders and has not contributed to the party’s growth in the area.

“We wish to emphasize that allowing one individual to determine the fate of the entire local government undermines the party’s collective leadership structure and is unacceptable in a democratic setting.

“As we approach the forthcoming presidential election, unity and grassroots commitment will be crucial to achieving electoral success.

“We remain loyal members of the APC and deeply appreciate your leadership. We respectfully appeal for your intervention to restore confidence, inclusiveness, and internal democracy within the party structure in Ovia North East.

“We believe that timely intervention will prevent deeper divisions and reinforce the unity necessary for the continued success of the APC in Edo State.

“As the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine. We trust in your wisdom and leadership to address this matter.”

Protests in Ovia North East Local Government Area have become recurrent, particularly as the APC has begun the process of selecting candidates for the upcoming local government elections.

On Monday, March 23, leaders and members of the APC in Isiuwa Ward protested at the state party secretariat in Benin City, accusing Lucky Imasuen of manipulating the outcome of their decision to nominate Mr. Modesty Osemwingie as councillor.
The Isiuwa Ward Chairman, Mr. William Amadin, also accused Imasuen of orchestrating a scheme to replace the nominee with Miss Sonata Iweka, whom he alleged to be closely associated with the former Chief of Staff.

Those who signed the petition on behalf of other stakeholders include Prof. Ovenseri Aibueku (Isiuwa Ward), Hon. Peter Ekhator (Isiuwa Ward), Mr. Goodwin Asemota (Uhen Ward), Hon. Bright Osayande (Uhen Ward), Hon. Sunday Osazemwinde (Oluku Ward), Comrade Lugard Iyenoma (Okada West), and 19 others from various wards.