Tinubu to Okpebholo: We’re going to stand with you like wall of Gibraltar

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, promised the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for the governorship poll in the state of the total backing.

The president made the pledge during the presentation of APC flag to Okpebholo and his running mate, Honourable Dennis Idahosa, at the State House in Abuja.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President also noted that the APC is on the path to victory in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State.

Addressing a gathering of party stalwarts led by the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, at the State House, the President pledged that the party would stand with the candidates ”like the wall of Gibraltar.

”If you are happy; we are happy. If you are determined; we are determined. We are going to work with you. We are going to stand with you like the wall of Gibraltar. That is all I can assure you. The party is supreme, but victory is superior and very important,” the President said.

President Tinubu commended the leadership of the party in Edo for their efforts towards the success of the candidates and the party.

He particularly lauded Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of the state, for his exemplary leadership.

”Distinguished Senator and our flag-bearer, we are putting you forward in order to hold the party in trust for us and achieve victory for us. You and your running mate have been described as giant killers, and you have worked tirelessly with the party leadership,” he said.

The President, while inviting Edo State woman leader, Lady Betty Okoebor, to speak on the party’s readiness for the election, reiterated that with the strong support of women, victory is assured.

”If the women say we are going to win, then we are good to go because they constitute the largest number of voters and the most dedicated,” President Tinubu affirmed.

In his remarks, the national chairman of the APC emphasised the unity of purpose within the party towards achieving victory in the election.

Ganduje said: ”Our candidate is soft-spoken, focused, and an achiever. He is a product that is highly marketable, and I am confident that with him as our flag-bearer, we will bring Edo back to our party.”

Meanwhile, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has imposed Dennis Idahosa as running mate to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate of the party in Edo State.

Checks revealed that Okpebholo, who had earlier picked Honourable Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama as his running mate, was told to drop the latter for his main rival for the party ticket, Dennis Idahosa.

Multiple sources indicated that former Edo governor and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole,  had pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to allow him present his favoured candidate, Dennis Idahosa as running mate ahead of the September election.

In the horse trading that followed, Idahosa is expected to withdraw suit he filed in court challenging the emergence of Senator Okpebholo as APC standard bearer for the Edo governorship race.

Idahosa,  in a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) asked the it not to accord recognition to Okpebholo.

In a letter dated March 4th 2024, addressed to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu, counsel  to Idahosa, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) informed the electoral umpire that a suit, No.FHC/ABJ/CS/274/2024 has been instituted to challenge the declaration of Senator Okpebholo as APC standard-bearer.

Olanipekun, in the letter to INEC chairman, noted that the February 17, 2024 primary where Idahosa was declared winner by Senator Hope Uzodinnma remained the valid process and not the 20th February won by Okpebholo.

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