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…Ganduje vows to win governorship poll
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) on Saturday presented certificate to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the winner of the just-concluded party’s primary election for the September Edo state governorship poll.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony held in Abuja, party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, assured that with Okpebholo as APC candidate, the party will reclaim the state from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the September poll.
The former governor of Kano state described Okpebholo as a product that is sellable, refined, well packaged, and one that the party can easily deliver.
Ganduje said: “Three aspirants were declared as “candidates”. That process was not concluded and I asked the Committee to go back. Coincidentally, the chairman of the Committee had a presentation to make at the National Economic Council and that is why he could not go back to conclude the exercise.
“That was why his deputy, the Governor of Cross Rivers state, Bassey Otu, became the new chairman. I am happy to tell you that as we directed, as we monitored, the direct primaries took place in 192 wards.
“We have the record, the results were collated in each local govt and the results are with us. The results were announced after collation. As a result, Senator Okpebholo scored the highest number of votes and therefore declared the winner.
Some of the aspirants came forward to congratulate him. Those who couldn’t, from the report we heard, also called his line.
What is important to us is to win Edo state. We knew what happened in the past, but now we are in the way to win that election, because we believe that we have a product that is sellable, refined, well packaged, and a product that we can deliver,” the APC boss said.
In his acceptance speech, Okpebholo assured that he will not disappoint the people of Edo state, reiterating that the journey to resetting the state with actionable development has began with the confidence reposed in him as the flag bearer of APC.
He said: “My great respect goes to our party National Chairman and the indefatigable team of the NWC, our political leaders in Edo state led by Comrade Senator Adams Oshiomhole who have piloted the affairs of our great party, the APC through thick and thin.
“Today, the APC family in Edo state has made a bold statement by choosing vood over evil, development over inanities and love over hate. It has been clear to every discerning mind that Edo state has gone on the wrong path of development with the elitist style of governance with little regard to reality.
“The journey to resetting our dear state by strengthening her Heartbeat with actionable development begins today by your reposing confidence in me as the flag bearer of our great party, the APC.
“I shall leverage on the collective strength of all of us and the passion for a greater Edo. I am humbly requesting all my brothers and sisters who contested the primaries with me, to put the contest behind and join me in the challenging task of making Edo State heart beat again with development across the broad spectrum of human endeavour. This journey of meaningful development has no respect for tribal and ethnic inclinations nor religious calculations. It is about building Edo by Edo people.
“I will immediately embark on visitation to our political leaders and my co-contestants for unity of purpose. We are all in it together and by God’s grace our great party APC will return to Osadebe Avenue come November this year.
“With due reverence to God and great respect to humanity, I hereby accept my nomination as the flag bearer of our great party, the APC,” he said.
The coast is however not yet clear as one of the aspirants, Dennis Idahosa, personally led a protest to the headquarters of the ruling party to stop the presentation of the certificate.
