Okpebholo clinched the party’s ticket when he polled 12,433 votes to defeat Agbomhere, Dennis Idahosa and nine other aspirants after the previous poll was declared inconclusive.
Idahosa has since challenged the electoral process by threatening to drag the National Working Committee of the ruling party to court for cancelling the initial February 17 primary.
But Agbomhere, who was the immediate past South-South Zonal Organising Secretary of the APC, said as a co-contestant, he could not begrudge Okpebholo for winning the poll.
Reacting in a congratulatory message issued in Abuja on Sunday, Agbomhere stated that the Edo APC candidate has the humility and sincerity of purpose needed to convince anyone that he has the people’s interest at heart.
The statement partly read, “The emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo is a testament to the resolve of the Edo APC family to enthrone internal party democracy, which has now produced a credible, capable and sellable candidate that can be trusted to ensure that Edo people are lifted out of the present penury that they find themselves under the purposeless and vision-less PDP administration.”
Agbomhere also hailed President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, for conducting a free and fair poll in Edo State, adding that the transparent process adopted for the primaries ensured that a purpose-driven and well-respected candidate was produced.
The politician also urged Okpebholo to reach out to former Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, his co-contestants and other aggrieved parties to have a united front ahead of the September governorship election.
