From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Friday received All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Hon Dennis Idahosa, leader of the APC in Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, among others at the State House, Abuja, where he was updated on the party’s campaign activities.
Speaking to State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, Oshiomhole expressed confidence that the ruling party would win the upcoming governorship election, citing the crisis within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
He denied allegations that the APC orchestrated the crisis that led to the invalidation of the PDP governorship primary. Oshiomhole said the crisis was an internal affair of the PDP, which had nothing to do with the APC.
On why the visit and how the parties stand for the upcoming election, the former Edo governor said, “we went with the candidate and the running mate to give the President an update on the campaigns going on what we are doing and the fact that we are harvesting more are more people every day decamping.”
The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, also expressed the APC’s confidence, saying the party’s candidate, Okpebholo, already has Edo North and Central Senatorial Districts locked down, with the South Senatorial District being the only battleground.
Momoh, speaking on the field advantage of the APC over the PDP and Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, said the ruling party’s candidate already has Edo North and Central Senatorial Districts locked down, adding that the South Senatorial District would be the only battle ground where the three parties will share votes.
“Yes, Edo north is a no go area because my leader, myself and a host of others including Dan Orbih today who’s coming from the legacy group, we are from Edo north, anytime any day maximally we can deliver Edo North. Edo Central there is no doubt that our candidates Senator Monday Okpebholo, will sweep Edo Central because he’s a homeboy.
“He’s a senator, elected as a Senator for the very first time since 1999. This is the very first person who has won election outside the PDP cycle. So such person you should know that he’s loved by the people. And anytime any day they will vote for him because you will speak to them in their dialect, but the other man can’t do that. The Esan man will tell you I cannot be a stranger in government house in Osadebe avenue. Let me better vote for the person who can always say Hara and the person will respond.