Edo 2024: Okpebholo, Akpata pick APC’s LP’s guber tickets
– PDP will lose election if it does not recognise me as candidate, says Shaibu
– LP primary monetised, aspirant Iseghohi alleges
With 12,433 votes, the senator representing Edo Central, Monday Okpebholo, yesterday won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Edo State, clearing the way for him to fly the party’s flag in the September 21, 2024 election.
The Labour Party (LP) primary, which also took place yesterday, produced the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, as winner.
Okpebholo and Akpata are joining Mr. Atsu Ighodalo, who was elected by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its flag bearer on Wednesday, on the ballot paper as the three leading contestants in the election.
Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, who was picked by a faction of the PDP in the state as its candidate for the polls declared yesterday that the party should forget winning the September poll should it fail to recognise him as its rightful candidate.
Chairman of the Edo State APC governorship primary, Senator Bassey Otu, announced Okpebholo’s victory at the end of collation of results from the 18 local government areas of the state.
Otu is the governor of Cross River State.
Mr. Dennis Idahosa, who was declared winner of last weekend’s hotly disputed primary, came a distant second in the fresh exercise with only 6,541 votes.
He currently represents Ovia constituency in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.
Representative Anamero Dekeri (Etsako), who polled 2,562 votes, protested the outcome of the election.
He accused Otu and other members of the electoral committee of doing a bad job.
Otu asked him to take his complaint to the party’s appeal panel.
Another aspirant, Prince Clem Agba, who got 2,732 votes, said: “I am sure you are all confused, especially after our meeting. I would be too. In the early hours of today (yesterday), I got additional information that what we are experiencing right now would be the case. It is unfortunate after our morale was on the rise and hope was on the horizon.
“However, regardless of what has transpired, we have indeed run a good race, and I am proud of the movement we have built. Despite that, I know it is painful, but I feel we should put this saga of an emotional rollercoaster behind us, and as party men and women, we should work with Senator Monday Okpebholo. Thank you all, and God bless each and every one of us.’
Observers see Okpebholo’s victory as defeat for Idahosa’s chief backer, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of the state.
Moments after the declaration of the result, the APC governorship candidate proceeded on a courtesy visit to the GRA Benin residence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who had withdrawn from the race as part of the resistance of alleged one man show of Oshiomhole in the state APC.
Ize-Iyamu was APC’s candidate in the 2021 poll, which he lost to the incumbent, Mr.Godwin Obaseki.
Okpebholo, who is popularly known as Akpakomiza, is the current Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement.
He was born on August 29, 1970 and hails from Uwessan-Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.
He is a philantropist of note with particular interest in water supply to his constituents.
He also introduced a free public transportation scheme in Edo Central.
He told the Nigerian Observer in an interview last November that this stemmed from the untimely death of his younger and only sister, resulting from complications from unhygienic water supply in the village.
“While leaving the village in tears and agony, I made a vow to God that if he blesses me financially, I would fix the problem of lack of hygienic public water in my community,” he said in that interview.
He is a major actor in Nigeria’s information and communication technologies sector.
He has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Abuja.
He was in the PDP where he cut his political teeth under the leadership of the late Chief Tony Anenih.
He defected to the APC in 2020 before his election into the Senate in 2023.
Speaking on his free public transportation in the Observer interview, he said: “That is novel in Nigeria! At a time governments are finding it difficult to provide free public transportation for the masses, here is an individual who has done so.
“Most importantly, the free transportation scheme in Edo Central has become an immense support system to workers, traders, business owners, farmers, students, clergymen and various types of commuters in the post-subsidy removal regime in Nigeria.
“My plan is to change the infrastructural deficit narrative in Edo Central Senatorial District even though as a lawmaker, my primary responsibility is to make laws for the good and well-being of the society.”
How Akpata emerged as LP flag bearer
Akpata, who is from Edo South Senatorial District, same as the incumbent Obaseki, polled 316 votes.
He defeated billionaire philanthropist, Kenneth Imansuangbon, who had only seven votes, Prof Sunday Eromosele, also seven votes, and Sergius Ogun, four votes.
The chief returning officer of the election and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Emechulu Ikecbukwu, thanked the aspirants for their spirit of sportsmanship.
He asked Akpata to carry other aspirants along.
In his acceptance speech, the LP candidate paid tribute to the late Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, who was buried in Owo yesterday, describing him as his mentor and predecessor as NBA national president.
He pledged to carry everybody along.
LP primary monetised, says aspirant, Iseghohi; withdraws from race
Shortly before the LP primary got underway in Benin yesterday, one of the aspirants, Tom Iseghohi, withdrew from the race, alleging lack of transparency in the exercise.
Iseghohi said he was disappointed at the manner in which the process was monetised at the expense of selection of the best and popular candidate.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, could not be reached as he didn’t pick the calls made to his phone.
Iseghohi, in a letter to the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, said: “I have observed with keen interest the process that is being utilised to nominate the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party.
“As a participant in the process, I am disappointed by the lack of transparency and the monetization of the process at the expense of selection of the best candidate with the popularity within the party and the capacity to win the general elections.
“This is at variance with my personal value system, that of my political family and the interest of the people of Edo State.
“Consequently, after consultations with my mentors, advisers, my team and my family, I hereby withdraw from the nomination process in the Labour Party.
“I am grateful for your attention to this urgent matter and look forward to your prompt and decisive action.”
PDP’ll lose Edo except I’m recognised as rightful candidate, says Shaibu
Shaibu, speaking in an interview on Channels Television yesterday, said he did not see the PDP winning the September election except the party recognised him as the rightful candidate.
He dismissed Ighodalo’s chances as slim because, as he (Shaibu) said, he (Ighodalo) is not a homeboy.
“The option is for the PDP not to go and argue against my candidacy. If they do that, PDP will lose Edo State. Edo people do not want Asue Ighodalo to be the governor of Edo State because he is not a homeboy they know,” the deputy governor said.
Edolites, he claimed, “are looking for someone that they know, somebody they can feel, somebody they can touch. PDP has a date with history. Delegates have spoken that they want Shaibu and I can bet you that the other eight aspirants will support Shaibu if the party backs him.”
He added: “If the party decides to join us in court to argue for Ighodalo, then winning Edo State for PDP will be shaky because Asue will not be accepted by the people.”
And in a statement in Benin yesterday, Shaibu who is estranged with his principal, Obaseki, over his governorship aspiration, expressed his “heartfelt appreciation to all the party delegates who participated in the primary election” that threw him up as factional candidate.
He said: “Your trust and support mean the world to me, and I am truly honoured to have earned your vote. Your faith in my abilities is both humbling and motivating, and I promise to uphold the ideals and principles of our great party, as we move forward in this journey together.
“I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the state executive members, the senatorial leaders, local government area leaders, ward leaders and stakeholders of the PDP for their unwavering support and guidance throughout this process.
“Your dedication to the party’s progress and your willingness to work hand in hand with the aspirants demonstrate the spirit of unity that we strive to achieve. I am privileged to have such a committed team by my side as we embark on this new chapter.
“To the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, I am deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in me. Your diligence, wisdom and commitment to democratic ideals have been the foundation upon which our party thrives. I pledge to honour your trust by engaging in vigorous campaigns, reaching out to the people of Edo State and promoting the progressive policies advocated by our great party.
“I also want to thank my fellow aspirants who contested alongside me in this primary. The spirit of healthy competition that you brought to the primaries has strengthened our party and deepened our resolve to work together for the success of the PDP.”
Edo deputy governor also wanted the state’s PDP members to put their differences aside and unite, while stressing that it was through unity that they would create the lasting impact that Edo needed.
Shaibu said: “Looking ahead, I am fully aware of the challenges that lie before us. However, fear not, for I am unyielding in my commitment to steer Edo State towards greater progress, prosperity and unity. I promise to be a leader who listens, who stands for justice, and who tirelessly advocates for the welfare of all Edo citizens.
“Edo deserves us to continually flourish and remain that template other states and countries will come to understudy and learn from. Let us work hard to put smiles on the faces of our people, let us make them have a deep feeling of our governance and enjoy the dividends of democracy. Let us continue to preserve our cultural heritage and keep our state’s flag flying high.
“I earnestly extend an olive branch to all members of our great party — let us work harmoniously together to emerge victorious in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. Collaboratively, we shall herald a new era of good governance, accountability, and inclusive development for the benefit of every citizen of our dear state.
“Again, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the party delegates, the state executives, the members of the National Working Committee (NWC), and my fellow aspirants. Together, we will prevail and bring about the transformation that Edo State so rightfully deserves.”
The factional Edo PDP governorship candidate (Shaibu) also declared that nobody could intimidate him in the governorship race, while trusting God to remain victorious and succeed Obaseki on November 12 this year.
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