Lukman, however, warned that both Okpebholo and the APC need to do more in terms of reconciling aggrieved parties to have a united front, saying the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Asue Ighodalo, and his counterpart in Labour Party, Olumide Akpata are no push over.
The former Vice Chairman of the APC for North-West gave the warning in a statement issued in Abuja titled ‘Prospects for Reclaiming APC.’
Okpebholo was declared winner by Chairman of the election committtee and Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, after he polled 12,433 votes to defeat Dennis Idahosa and 10 other aspirants.
Idahosa, touted as former Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s anointed candidate, scored 6,541 to place second while Clement Agba polled 2,732.
Other results were Amero Sunday 2,562; Everest Afolabi 2,117; Gerald Charles 1,181; Dr. Blessing Agbomhere 731; Gideon Ikhanire 720; Prof Oserheimen Osunbor 634, Lucky Imasuen 493, Col. David Imose 423 and Osagie Ize-Iyamu 378.
Reacting to the outcome, Lukman praised the courage of the APC leadership to quickly arrange for a re-run following the outcry and allegations of malpractices that trailed initial February 17 primary.
He said, “What is very clear is that given the emergence of Mr. Asue Ighodalo and Mr. Olumide Akpata SAN as the PDP and Labour Party candidates for the same elections, it should be expected that the election will be keenly contested. These are two well accomplished and respected persons.
“The APC needs a popular candidate for the election to contest against these heavyweights. Is Sen. Okpebholo the popular candidate the APC needs to win the Edo 2024 governorship election? First, the mere fact that he could stand out and successfully become the arrowhead against imposition of candidate in the APC for Edo 2024 election suggests that he enjoys strong support within the APC. Secondly, being the first person to have defeated the PDP since 1999 to emerge as the winner of Edo Central Senatorial zone is indicative of his popularity.
“Are these enough to guarantee victory for the APC? Certainly, not. But what all these mean is that they provided the strong political foundation needed for a strong campaign structure for the APC in Edo State. If anything, it can be said without fear of contradiction that Sen. Okpebholo will not be carrying the baggage or liability of any so-called godfather. That alone is a source of political attraction in a state whose people are known to be very combative against Godfathers.”
The Kaduna politician however expressed concern that everything about the previous shadow poll reeks of a ‘replay of old scripts of attempts to manipulate the emergence of a particular aspirant as APC governorship candidate ahead of the September 2024 elections.
He also praised the National Working Committee under the leadership of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje for quickly declaring the election inconclusive and taking proper time to complete the process last Thursday.
For the APC to regain all its electoral advantages, he said the emergence of Okpebholo being a popular candidate that won a strong contest and defeated attempt to impose a candidate for the APC, should be consolidated by allowing structures of the APC to operate as provided under the party’s constitution.
