The All Progressives Congress (APC) has chosen Dennis Idahosa as the running mate to its governorship candidate for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Idahosa’s selection came during a stakeholders’ meeting on Sunday night, with the party’s national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in attendance.
Idahosa replaces Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who was initially named as the running mate by Senator Okpebholo. Ogbeide-Ihama, a former two-term House of Representatives member from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), recently defected to the APC.
The decision to replace Ogbeide-Ihama reportedly came after a plea from former Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole to party bigwigs, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in favour of Idahosa.
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Idahosa, who was initially the favourite candidate of Oshiomhole, won the party’s ticket during the first primary election held on February 17. However, following criticisms of the process, a second primary was conducted on February 22, which declared Senator Okpebholo the winner. Idahosa contested the outcome in court and led protests in Abuja and Benin.
Sources at the APC headquarters revealed that Idahosa has agreed to withdraw his suit against the party this week, following the negotiations that led to his emergence as the running mate.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence in the APC’s victory in the upcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State. He made this known on Monday in Abuja during the presentation of the party’s flag to Senator Okpebholo and his running mate, Idahosa, at the Presidential Villa. Tinubu assured the candidates of the party’s unwavering support.
The APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, emphasized the importance of unity within the party to achieve victory. He described Senator Okpebholo as soft-spoken, focused, and an achiever, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the party to victory in Edo State.
Before the flag presentation, Vice President Kashim Shettima reportedly met with Edo State stakeholders to resolve disagreements over the crisis that led to the emergence of the candidate. Sources said it was during this meeting that the issue of Idahosa as the running mate was resolved.
