By Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State has rose stoutly in the defence of the national chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, who has been accused of collecting bribes by some aggrieved APC governors.

According to the reports in some national dailies, eight of the APC governors, including the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, had allegedly held a meeting with Oyegun where he was accused of collecting gifts from Bukola Saraki before the election which saw him emerge as Senate President.

The governors expressed displeasure with the APC leader for pretending to be in support of the party’s candidate for the seat, Ahmed Lawan, who eventually lost out in the power tussle.

The national publicity secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed, has earlier refuted the claims by the governors.

In his reaction, the party’s Edo State publicity secretary, Godwin Erhahon, said after the state chapter investigated the allegations, it found out that there was no truth in the claims.

He added that the party in the state was also not sure that the governors actually made such claims in the first place

“That publication is a figment of the imagination of the author. We in Edo have been able to read the statement of the governor and the national chairman and there was ‎no spelt allegation or call for resignation. In any case, who can bribe the national chairman and what for?”

He said that the emergence of Saraki as Senate President was not expected even at the state level hence the controversy.

“Everybody is also aware that President‎ Mohammadu Buhari told everyone to calm down and ensure that the matter was not allowed to break the party. So, at what level will bribery come in?” Erhahon asked.

He however called on the party at the national level to partner with members at the National Assembly to ensure that the selection of the principal officers does not create more friction

The APC scribe also urged all governors on the party’s platform to support Buhari in his quest to bring sanity into the party and polity.