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…Warns against stiff competition from Akpata, Ighodalo
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman North-West, Salihu Moh Lukman, has claimed that the possibility of his party emerging victorious in the September Edo state governorship election will depend on the ability and capacity of the party’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo, uniting with the other 11 aspirants and leader of the party in the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Lukman, in a statement he issued in Abuja on Saturday, emphasised that the strong determinant for Okpebholo winning the main election will be his quick resolution of his relationship with all the other 11 APC aspirants.
He further argued that what will be the relationship between Okpebholo and Comrade Oshiomhole, who was alleged to have supported Dennis Idahosa based on which the governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma, allegedly attempted to manipulate his imposition.
The former Director General APC Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), however expressed fresh fears that even the relationship with the aspirants and Oshiomhole becomes cordial, Okpebholo will equally meet strong competition from the candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olumide Akpata SAN and Mr. Asue Ighodalo respectively.
“It was quite worrisome that the APC was almost setup for another electoral disaster in Edo state. Without attempting to overlook one of the critical challenge of political party development in Nigeria, which is about instituting transparently democratic process of candidate selection process within our political parties, it is a source of pride that the APC NWC under the leadership of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was able to quickly arrest the drift, which would have confirmed the APC as an undemocratic party.
“It is quite commendable that the leadership of the APC was able to retrace its steps by first reorganising the Primary Election Committee and then allowing a level playing field to guarantee the emergence of a popular candidate based on majority votes.
“Unlike previous cases whereby the Primary Election Committee practically allocates votes to aspirants and declare an anointed person as the winner, it is also commendable that the reorganised APC Primary Election Committee under the leadership of Bassey Otu chose the path of honour by allowing fair contest to produce the winner of the primary.
“The big question is whether this will be the new standard in APC. Before even assessing whether this will be the new standard, the question of whether this will guarantee electoral victory for the APC in the Edo 2024 election need to be interrogated.
In most cases where APC lost elections in areas where it is adjudged to be strong, inability of candidates and leaders of the party to remain united is one of the major contributory factors. This is certainly one of the problems that made APC to lose the 2020 Edo governorship election.
“Will the emergence of Okpebholo as the candidate of the APC for the 2024 Edo election change that? A strong determinant will be the question of what will define the relationship between Okpebholo and all the other 11 APC aspirants?
“What will be the relationship between Okpebholo and Comrade Oshiomhole who was alleged to have supported Idahosa based on which Uzodinma attempted to manipulate his imposition?” Lukman queried.
Warning that his victory will not be a walk into the park, Lukman noted that; “what is very clear is that given the emergence of Ighodalo and Olumide Akpata SAN as PDP and LP candidates for the same elections, it should be expected that the election will be keenly contested. These are two well accomplished and respected persons.
“APC needed a popular candidate for the election to contest against these heavyweights. Is Okpebholo the popular candidate APC need to win the Edo 2024 governorship election?
“First, the mere fact that he could stand out and successfully become the arrowhead against imposition of candidate in APC for Edo 2024 election suggest that he enjoys strong support within the APC.
“Secondly, being the first person to have defeated the PDP since 1999 to emerge as the winner of Edo Central Senatorial zone is indicative of his popularity. Are these enough to guarantee victory for APC? Certainly, not. But what all these mean is that they provided the strong political foundation needed for a strong campaign structure for APC in Edo State. If anything, it can be said without fear of contradiction that Okpebholo will not be carrying the baggage or liability of any so-called godfather,” he noted.
