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By Chukwudi Nweje
One of the the leading aspirants for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Edo State, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe has refuted claims that he has stepped aside from the Primary scheduled to hold next month.
Dr. Umakhihe insisted at the weekend that he has not withdrawn from the race and urged his supporters across the state to remain steadfast on his aspirations to become the next occupant of the Government House on Denis Osadebey Avenue in Benin City.
His official statement came amidst shocks and confusion in the ranks and leadership of the APC on the true position of the wrongly interpreted message he sent out earlier on Sunday.
In a statement titled, “Rebuttal on Withdrawal from the Governorship Race,” Dr. Umakhihe who is one of the last six aspirants cleared by the Professor Julius Ihonvbere Committee set up by the party hierarchy referred to an earlier text message he sent to friends and fans of the EAU Movement which has been misrepresented in the social media.
He said: “I hereby wish to state that after clarification from the leadership of the party, I remain in the race, in line with the policy of no zoning. I have only put on hold my tour of the Local Government Areas, which will take place in due course.
“To this end, I enjoin all to continue the mobilisation for nomination and vote of Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe Ph.D, OON as APC flag bearer in the forthcoming 2024 Governorship elections in Edo State.”
Dr. Umakhihe kicked off his audacious Edo 2024 campaign in Afuze, headquarters of Owan East Local Government Area of the State with fanfare early in January. The well-structured organisation of this former Federal Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has created ripples in the APC in the state, leading to general belief that the Governorship Primary could swing to this Otuo indigene from Edo North.
A distinguished administrator with hands-on experience in leadership, his ‘Fresh Hope Agenda’ attracted several disciples to his call to enthrone a government with ‘human face’ in the state in the new dispensation.
Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe is a distinguished, renowned Nigerian bureaucrat, accomplished Accountant, resourceful Civil Servant and core Professional. His rise to the pinnacle of his career in the Nigerian highly competitive Public Service, the largest in the African Continent attests to a dint of hard work, tenacity, commitment, productivity and resourcefulness worthy of emulation.
Dr. Umakhihe was born on April 5, 1964 at Iyeu Quarters, Otuo, Owan-East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. He was brought up in Otuo, Afuze and Igarra of Edo State, where he had his elementary education. He had his Secondary Education at the Holy Trinity Grammar School at Sabon-Gida Ora and Edo College, Benin-City, Edo State, for his WASCE O/L.
The quintessential former Civil Servant is a product of the prestigious University of Benin, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria. He obtained B.Sc. Accounting (Second Class, Upper Division); and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the same university. The governorship aspirant obtained his Ph.D in Security and Strategic Studies from the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State. Professionally, he is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management; Chartered Institute of Administration of Nigeria; Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria; Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria; Institute of Business Development of Nigeria; African Institute by the African Institute of Public Administration, Institution of Agricultural Engineers (Honorary Fellow); Chartered Institute of Directors(Member) amongst many other professional bodies.
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