Senate President Godswill Akpabio has mocked former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, claiming that his successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki, turned against him despite Oshiomhole’s support in helping him emerge as governor. Akpabio made this statement during a Senate debate, saying, “The man you brought in as governor has turned against you and against democracy.”
In response, Oshiomhole clarified that while he supported Obaseki’s election in 2016, he did not bring him in, noting that Obaseki was elected just as Akpabio had supported Governor Udom Emmanuel.
Oshiomhole’s backing of Obaseki in 2016 played a pivotal role in his victory against the People’s Democratic Party’s candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, despite resistance from All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders who favored other candidates. However, tensions between Oshiomhole and Obaseki escalated two years into Obaseki’s tenure when party leaders felt excluded from his administration. The fallout eventually led to a longstanding rift between the two.
Before the 2024 governorship election, Obaseki attempted to reconcile with Oshiomhole in support of his candidate, Asue Ighodalo, but the effort was unsuccessful, and Ighodalo lost the election.
