THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced the choice of Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, as running mate to its Governorship Candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) named the member representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, as the running mate to its governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
In a twist of events, while some APC members in the state are set to join the PDP, ostensibly following the emergence of Ogie as running mate, some members of the Okpebholo dynasty has queued behind Ighodalo’s candidacy.
The intending APC defectors cite the emergence of the governorship candidate and his running mate as reason for their decision.
“We are glad to work for the PDP with the emergence of Ogie, because our interest would be protected. We know him; we have worked together before and we are ready to collapse our structures in the APC for him to succeed.
“With what is happening in the APC, we are now left with no other choice, but to massively vote and support Ogie, who has been calm and prudent in his service to the state from Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s tenure till date.”
On its part, the family of philanthropist and cleric, Rev. Matthew Okpebholo, has thrown its weight behind Ighodalo, saying the decision was reportedly solidified during Ighodalo’s weekend visit to Bishop Okpebholo, a senior family member.
A prominent family member, Patrick Okpebholo, who disclosed the family’s decision to journalists in Benin City, asserting Ighodalo to be their preferred candidate, said the visit of the PDP candidate to the home of the bishop was a strategic move by the candidate in consolidating the chances of the party in the September 21 governorship election.
He stated that the leader of the Okpebholo family has become a force to reckon with in determining who gets what in Esanland, and to some extent, Edo State, even though he is not known to belong to any political party.
In Abuja, APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, presented Idahosa as the deputy governorship candidate during a meeting with the party’s governorship aspirants and stakeholders from the state.
This was disclosed in a statement on the party’s official X handle on Monday, March 18, saying Ganduje met with the stakeholders, during which Idahosa, a former aspirant, was presented as the party’s deputy governorship candidate for the election.
A former governor of the state and current a senator, Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday, March 18, congratulated Okpebholo on his emergence as the governorship candidate, one month after his alleged anointed candidate, Idahosa, lost to Okpebholo in the February 22 primary election.
