In preparation for the forthcoming Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21, over 30 influential leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) hailing from Edo South Senatorial District (Benin) have officially endorsed Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama as the running mate to the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
This significant endorsement took place during a gathering in Abuja, attended by prominent former governorship aspirants and key stakeholders representing Edo South. Notable figures present at the meeting included Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), Lucky Imasuen, and Senator Matthew Urhoghide, among others.
Ogbeide-Ihama, a seasoned politician and former member of the House of Representatives, recently made a transition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. His defection to the APC, alongside his considerable following and influence within the Dan Orbih-led faction of the PDP in Edo South, has significantly bolstered the APC’s prospects in the senatorial zone.
The move to endorse Ogbeide-Ihama as the running mate is perceived as a strategic maneuver aimed at consolidating support within Edo South, the largest senatorial district in the state. The leaders emphasized the unity demonstrated among major stakeholders from Edo South, highlighting its pivotal role in securing victory for the APC in the upcoming election.
Quoting one of the leaders present at the meeting, it was emphasized that the unprecedented unity among leaders from Edo South has historically eluded the APC in the senatorial district, contributing to electoral setbacks. However, with the resolution of internal differences and the collective endorsement of Ogbeide-Ihama, the APC stands poised for a potentially decisive victory in Edo South during the upcoming polls.
