Stephen Angbulu, Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis and Adeyinka Adedipe
President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, pledged his support for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, ahead of the September 2024 governorship poll.
“We are going to stand with you like the wall of Gibraltar. That is all I can assure you,” said Tinubu when he presented the party’s flag to Okpebholo at the State House, Abuja.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement on Monday, quoted him as asserting that the APC was headed for victory to upstage the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State and produce the state’s sixth civilian governor since its creation in August 1991.
The statement was titled, ‘President Tinubu presents APC flag to Senator Okpebholo, says party on the path to victory in Edo guber.’
In 2008, Edo became one of eight Nigerian states with off-cycle elections resulting from court judgments that overturned the results of at least one previous election.
In November that year, a tribunal and the Court of Appeal re-examined polls held in 2007 and sacked Governor Oserheimen Osunbor of the Peoples Democratic Party and handed victory to Adams Oshiomhole of the APC.
Addressing a gathering of party stalwarts led by the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the President said, ‘’If you are happy; we are happy. If you are determined; we are determined. We are going to work with you.
“We are going to stand with you like the wall of Gibraltar. That is all I can assure you. The party is supreme, but victory is superior and very important.”
President Tinubu commended the leadership of the party in Edo for their efforts towards the success of the primary that produced the flag bearers.
He also lauded Oshiomhole, a former governor of the state, for what he described as exemplary leadership.
“Distinguished senator and our flagbearer, we are putting you forward in order to hold the party in trust for us and achieve victory for us.
“You and your running mate have been described as giant killers, and you have worked tirelessly with the party leadership,’’ Tinubu said.
While inviting Edo State woman leader, Betty Okoebor, to speak on the party’s readiness for the election, Tinubu reiterated that the strong support of women would ensure the party’s victory.
‘’If the women say we are going to win, then we are good to go because they constitute the largest number of voters and the most dedicated,” the President said.
In his remarks, the APC National Chairman, Ganduje, stressed the need for unity of purpose within the party towards achieving victory in the election.
“Our candidate is soft-spoken, focused, and an achiever. He is a product that is highly marketable, and I am confident that with him as our flagbearer, we will bring Edo back to our party,” Ganduje said.
Meanwhile, Okpebholo alleged that some forces saw his emergence as a threat and were determined to stop his victory at the primaries. However, he said Edo voters would decide who leads them on September 21.
“The record I have, the governor (Godwin Obaseki, PDP) has not been able to achieve it for eight years. So, this is a clear indication that my coming is even a threat. They were praying that I should not win this primary.
“On September 21, Edo people will speak. We are ready to take over Edo State. What has happened at the primary shows that is the President is a democrat, a voice for the voiceless.
“The primary in Edo was well contested. And a winner has emerged. We have our deputy now. We are setting the ball rolling. The sky is our limit. Now it’s time to say bye-bye to PDP in Edo,” he stated.
The PUNCH also understands that Monday’s meeting afforded parties the opportunity to address disagreements that have been brewing in Edo APC for weeks.
It was learned that Idahosa was asked to withdraw his protest litigation against the candidacy of Okpebholo.
The primary election through which Okpebholo emerged as a candidate had been mired in controversy. Idahosa was first declared the party’s nominee by the Governor Hope Uzodimma-led committee.
The first round of voting on February 18 saw the trio of Okpebholo, Idahosa and Dekeri laying claim to the party’s governorship ticket.
Consequently, the party’s National Working Committee declared the exercise as inconclusive owing to several irregularities. Okpebholo eventually secured victory with 12,433 votes in a re-run held on February 23.
Earlier, the APC had unveiled the lawmaker representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, as Okpebholo’s running mate for the September 21 governorship poll.
Meanwhile, Oshiomole, on Monday officially congratulated Okpebholo for emerging the APC governorship candidate in Edo.
“Dear Senator Monday Okpebholo, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on your well-deserved emergence as the flag bearer of our esteemed party, the All Progressives Congress, for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election. Your victory in the closely contested primaries reflects the belief of our party members in your unwavering dedication and commitment to our party’s core values.
“As we embark on this crucial journey, I urge you to leave behind the intrigues of the primaries and extend a hand of fellowship to all those who contested with you for the ticket, as well as to all stakeholders of our party in the state. Together, we must forge a strong, united front that resonates with the electorate and secures victory in the governorship election on September 21, 2024,” Oshiomhole said.
