Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North in the National Assembly, has said that political sins cannot send politicians to hellfire.
Speaking at the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) congress on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Benin City, Oshiomhole dismissed claims he had previously suggested that joining APC absolves politicians of their sins. “Political sin cannot lead anybody to hellfire,” he said.
The former Edo State governor made the remarks while responding to newly elected state chairman of the party, Jarret Tenebe, who had appealed to those he may have offended during his tenure as acting chairman to forgive him. Oshiomhole emphasized that committing political sins is common in politics but does not carry eternal consequences.
“Jarret said all the sins he has committed should be forgiven. And I said he who does not sin does not belong to this planet Earth. This Earth is populated by sinners. For sinners who weep, ask for forgiveness in the way he has done. But to be honest, political sinners don’t need to go to hell. Political sins can only grow around a moment and then they just get dissolved. So, Jarret, you are brand new, staleness like a mint,” Oshiomhole said.
Earlier, Tenebe acknowledged that during his service as acting chairman, he may have offended party members. In his acceptance speech, he reflected on his tenure as Deputy State Chairman during a turbulent period in APC’s history in Edo State and noted that internal tensions arose due to differing political interests.
“I sincerely offer my apologies. Every decision taken was made in good faith and in the overall interest of the APC. I was also actively involved in the leadership process during a defining electoral period that reshaped the political landscape of Edo State, particularly in the build-up to the governorship election,” Tenebe said.
He added that all actions taken were guided by the collective goal of strengthening the party and called for reconciliation and unity among party members. “To all who felt aggrieved at any point, I extend a hand of reconciliation and goodwill as we move forward together to build a stronger Edo State,” Tenebe concluded.
