President Bola Tinubu on Friday received the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Hon Dennis Idahosa, alongside key APC leaders in Edo State, including Adams Oshiomhole and Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, at the State House, Abuja. During the meeting, they updated the President on the party’s campaign activities.
Adams Oshiomhole, speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, expressed confidence that the ruling party would win the upcoming governorship election. He attributed this optimism to the internal crisis within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Oshiomhole dismissed allegations that the APC orchestrated the crisis leading to the invalidation of the PDP governorship primary, stating that it was an internal affair of the PDP.
Oshiomhole clarified, “I think you should dismiss that because this is PDP versus PDP and you know that by the law, another party cannot go into intra-party conflicts in court. So if it is convenient for them to explain that, you can dismiss it without asking me.”
He further elaborated on the division within the PDP before and after their primaries, emphasizing that the issues in dispute were public knowledge. According to Oshiomhole, the APC had nothing to do with the PDP’s internal problems and had merely welcomed defectors from the PDP who felt marginalized.
Regarding the visit, Oshiomhole said they were there to update the President on the ongoing campaigns and the increasing number of people decamping to the APC. He highlighted recent defections from the PDP to the APC across various wards and local governments in Edo State.
Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of Niger Delta Development, also expressed confidence in the APC’s chances, noting that the party’s candidate, Okpebholo, had solid support in the Edo North and Central Senatorial Districts, with the South Senatorial District being the only battleground.
Momoh elaborated on the APC’s stronghold in these areas, emphasizing the popularity of their candidates and the support from influential local leaders. He acknowledged the South Senatorial District as a competitive zone where votes would be shared among the APC, PDP, and Labour Party candidates.
In conclusion, Momoh expressed optimism about the APC’s prospects in the upcoming election, stating that regardless of court judgments or other challenges, the party remained hopeful and prepared for victory.
