Edo Gov Poll: We Will Defeat PDP – Oshiomhole Boasts

In anticipation of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, expressed confidence in his party’s victory.

During a visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Friday, Oshiomhole asserted that the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, would triumph over Mr. Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Why should we even bother about shortcuts? Any day, we would defeat Asue Ighodalo,” Oshiomhole told journalists about his party’s prospects.

He also addressed the ongoing crisis within the state’s PDP, alleging, without evidence, that all party members in Egor Local Government Area had defected to the APC.

Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North in the National Assembly, mentioned that his visit to the Presidential Villa was to update President Tinubu on the APC’s campaign activities in Edo State.

“We went with the candidate and the running mate to brief the President. He is the leader of the party, and we updated him on the campaigns and our progress, highlighting that we are gaining more supporters every day.

“I’m surprised that rather than speculating about the competition, you are not acknowledging that the entire PDP in Egor, all the wards, defected to the APC a month ago. Just last week, in my local government, the remaining PDP members also defected to the APC,” he stated.

Oshiomhole denied claims that the APC orchestrated the crisis resulting from the invalidation of the PDP governorship primary, insisting that it was an internal issue within the PDP. He dismissed allegations that the APC had influenced the situation.

“So what power do I have? How can we, a non-state group, have the power to influence seasoned politicians against themselves? This is purely a PDP intra-party issue, and it highlights the importance of parties adhering to the rules governing primaries. The Electoral Act ensures that everyone plays by the rules, and we had no involvement in this matter,” Oshiomhole added.