Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is almost certain that the party will win the Sept. 21 Edo governorship election, going by the qualities of its candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo.
Ganduje said this on Saturday in Abuja when he presented the certificate of return to Okpebholo, saying that there was a need for other aspirants to work with him to ensure the party’s victory in the state.
He said that direct primaries were held in 192 wards in the state with records and video evidence, adding that Okpebholo was declared the winner because he got the highest votes.
“The full cooperation, harmony, and unity of all aspirants and members of our party is all we need now to win Edo in the coming election now that the primary is over.
“The party has a product that is refined, well packaged, and sellable to the electorate in the person of Okpebholo and is therefore ready to win Edo,” Ganduje said.
He said that other aspirants had since congratulated Okpebholo as the party’s candidate.
Nze Duru, the party’s Deputy National Organising Secretary while presenting the committee’s report to Ganduje, said the primaries was adjudged nationally and internationally to be the most peaceful, fairest, and transparent in the state.
Okpebholo in his remarks, called on other aspirants who contested the party’s ticket with him to join forces with him to ensure that the APC wins the Sept. 21 governorship election.
He commended the APC Edo Governorship Primary Election Committee for a job well done, assuring that the other aspirants would work hand in hand with Okpebholo to ensure the APC’s victory at the poll.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dennis Idahosa was initially declared the winner of the Edo Governorship Primary Election on Feb. 17, by the Gov. Hope Uzodinma-led Governorship Primary Election Committee.
The APC NWC however, upturned Idahosa’s election and declared it inconclusive.
The committee slated Feb. 21 for a supplementary election and replaced Uzodinma with Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River as chairman.
Otu while declaring Okpebholo the winner of the supplementary primaries, said he got 12,433 votes to defeat 11 other aspirants in the contest.
Okpebholo currently represents Edo Central at the National Assembly.