President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, met the leadership of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja.
Monday’s meeting was meant to address disagreements brewing in the state APC for weeks now and officially present the party’s flag to its candidate in the September governorship elections, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Hon. Dennis Idahosa.
The delegation was led to the Villa by the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
While the full details of the closed-door talks remain unclear, Idahosa had reportedly been asked to withdraw his court case against Okpebholo’s candidature.
The primary election through which Okpebholo emerged as a candidate has been mired in controversy.
Idahosa was first declared the party’s nominee by the Governor Hope Uzodimma-led committee.
The first round of voting saw the trio of Okpebholo, Idahosa, and Dekeri lay claim to the party’s governorship ticket.
Consequently, the party’s National Working Committee declared the exercise inconclusive owing to several irregularities.
Also present at the meeting was the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, and former representative of Edo South in the Senate, Matthew Urhoghide, among others.
President Tinubu said that the APC is on the path to victory in the gubernatorial election in the state.
Hepledged 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 Oshiomhole, who is a former governor of the state, for his exemplary leadership.
”Distinguished Senator and our flagbearer, 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 the 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.
Ganduje emphasised the unity of purpose within the party towards achieving victory in the election.
”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 flagbearer, we will bring Edo back to our party”, he said.
