From Fred Itua, Abuja and Tony Osauzo, Benin
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 2024 election in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, may soon receive bigwigs from the fractured Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Those expected to join the APC in the coming days are two former governorship aspirants, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and Omosede Igbinedion, both from the Edo South Senatorial District.
Stakeholders believe that with the possible entrance of Igbinedion, Ovia North East and South West are settled for the APC since the running mate to the APC candidate and member representing the federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, hails from the area.
Daily Sun gathered that the majority of the PDP members across the three senatorial districts and 18 local government areas may dump Obaseki’s PDP, while his Deputy, Philip Shaibu is also hellbent on decimating the support for Obaseki’s candidate, Asuen Ighodalo.
“The forces at play against the governor are numerous, especially his poor performance in office as the major albatross that would finally undo the governor and his anointed candidate at the polls,” an aggrieved PDP member noted.
On the flip side, the APC in the state has resolved its post-primary elections tussle and appears ready to launch its campaign soon.
The National Working Committee of the APC is expected to announce the campaign structure for Edo elections soon, as parties await the lifting of ban on electioneering campaigns in the state.
Meanwhile, the Diaspora Chairman of the APC, Italy, Pastor Mike Oputteh, has expressed confidence that the candidacy of Okpebholo and his running mate, Idahosa, is a path to victory in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.
In a statement he issued after the APC faithful hosted the Edo State acting Chairman of the party, Jarret Tenebe, who was in Rome, Italy, on a spiritual visit, Oputteh announced that Edo indigenes in Europe have been mobilised to support the enthronement of the APC government in Edo State to change the negative narratives and lacklustre government of Godwin Obaseki.
Oputteh, who is also the welfare officer, National Union of Nigerians Association in Italy (NUNAI), commended President Bola Tinubu over his fatherly intervention that had trailed the APC governorship primary, noting that the interest of the party was sacrosanct in ensuring a formidable and united APC into the governorship election.
He said Edo State cannot afford to have another stranger at the helm of affairs, a situation he pointed out has set the state in auto-reverse. He, therefore, assured that the APC government would correct the mal-administration of the PDP.