Ahead of the 21st September Edo governorship election, no fewer than 30 All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders from Edo South Senatorial District have endorsed Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama as running mate to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the party’s flag bearer at the polls.
The leaders gave their nod at a meeting attended by top former governorship aspirants and other critical stakeholders from Edo South in Abuja last night.
Among those present at the meeting were former APC governorship, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; former Deputy Governor Lucky Imasuen; General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd); Senator Matthew Urhoghide and stakeholders from the seven local government areas of the zone.
The meeting, which was at the instance of the governorship candidate, was part of his moves to get the buying-in of all stakeholders to present a united front ahead of the September gubernatorial election in the state.
A source at the meeting told newsmen in Abuja on Friday that the party and its candidate are set to coast home to victory with the endorsement of Ogbeide-Ihama by leaders from the largest senatorial district in the state.
According to him: “Major leaders from Edo South have never been this united before. That is why victory has been very elusive for the APC in the senatorial district. We’ve now settled that issue.
“With Ogbeide-Ihama as the running mate to Senator Okpebholo and all APC leaders from Edo South have formed a united front, we’ll deliver the entire Benin zone to the APC for the first time. This time around, there are no cracks in the party in Edo South.
“Ogbeide-Ihama is coming into APC with all the ward leaders of the PDP in Edo South and across the three senatorial districts in Edo State. It means 18 factional chairmen of the the PDP in Edo State, 192 Ward chairmen and other critical stakeholders are going to work for the success of APC in Edo State.
“You know the calibre of people who are members of the faction of the PDP in Edo State. The PDP in Edo State is strong because of them and with their united support, it’s a game changer and victory is assured for our candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“This is the first time something like this is happening and we’ll build on the momentum to ensure that we win the elections in September. It’s game over for the PDP in Edo State, even before the main elections.”
The party’s Governorship candidate, Senator Okpebholo welcomed and endorsed the action by APC leaders from Edo South.
Okpebholo maintained that APC is going into the elections more united than ever and expressed optimism that he’ll emerge as the next governor of Edo State.
“I fully welcome the development and endorsement of Ogbeide-Ihama by leaders of APC from Edo South. This is the first time something of this nature will happen and it shows that the APC family in Edo State is fully ready to go into this election,” Okpebholo said.
THE NATION
