No fewer than 30 All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders from Edo South Senatorial District (Benin), on Wednesday night in Abuja, endorsed Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama as running mate to the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Monday Okpebholo, ahead of the 21st September polls in the State.
The leaders gave the endorsement at a meeting attended by top former governorship aspirants and other critical stakeholders from Edo South.
Among those present at the meeting were Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, General Charles Airhiavbere (retd), Lucky Imasuen, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, among others.
Ogbeide-Ihama, a former member of the House of Representatives and a formidable politician from Edo South, until recently was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The popular Edo politician, who controls the structure of Dan Orbih-led faction of the PDP in Edo South, is moving into the APC with thousands of supporters and PDP Party leaders from the senatorial zone.
It was gathered that his movement to the party and his endorsement by leaders from the largest senatorial district in Edo State, may earn the APC the needed victory from Edo South during the polls.
One of the leaders who attended the meeting, quoted the leaders as saying that “major leaders from Edo South have never been this united before. That is why victory has been very elusive for the APC in the senatorial district. We’ve now settled that issue.
“With Ogbeide-Ihama as the running mate to Senator Okpebholo and all APC leaders from Edo South have formed a united front, we’ll deliver the entire Benin zone to the APC for the first time. This time around, there are no cracks in the party in Edo South.
“Ogbeide-Ihama is coming into APC with all the ward leaders of the PDP in Edo South and across the three senatorial districts in Edo State. It means 18 factional chairmen of the the PDP in Edo State, 192 Ward chairmen and other critical stakeholders are going to work for the success of APC in Edo State.
“You know the calibre of people who are members of the faction of the PDP in Edo State. The PDP in Edo State is strong because of them and with their united support, it’s a game changer and victory is assured for our candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“This is the first time something like this is happening and we’ll build on the momentum to ensure that we win the elections in September. It’s game over for the PDP in Edo State, even before the main elections.”
Governorship candidate of the APC in Edo State, Senator Okpebholo in his reaction to the development, told newsmen that he welcomes the move and has fully endorsed the action taken by APC leaders from Edo South.
Senator Okpebholo said APC is going into the elections more united than ever and expressed optimism that he’ll emerge as the next governor of Edo State.
“I fully welcome the development and endorsement of Ogbeide-Ihama by leaders of APC from Edo South. This is the first time something of this nature will happen and it shows that the APC family in Edo State is fully ready to go into this election,” Okpebholo said.
