APC appoints Urhoghide as Okpebholo/Idahosa campaign DG
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the weekend, denied involvement in the alleged attack on the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, at the Staff Club of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
In a statement signed by the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Dr. Patrick Ojebuobor, the PDP said that it decided to issue this clarification for the benefit of the unsuspecting members of the public.
The statement noted that the LP is not a threat to the PDP in the September 21 governorship election in the state.
The statement reads in part: “The PDP would have ignored the statement outright, as it was neither signed by LP nor their governorship candidate, but decided to issue this clarification for the benefit of the unsuspecting members of the public.
“The PDP has no hand in the alleged attack on the LP’s governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, at the University of Benin, as contained in the said unsigned statement.
“The PDP is a law-abiding political party, and has respect for the rule of law in its entirety, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and other extant laws, rules and regulations in our statute books.
“Our party, which doesn’t believe in violence and thuggery, does not have to resort to the use of unconventional means to tackle the LP’s candidate or any of its opponents in the September State governorship election in Edo State, as LP is not in contention in the election.”
While describing the authors of the unsigned statement as idle minds masquerading as Apata’s supporters to curry favour in the form of financial benefits, the statement urged them to explore employment opportunities in the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led PDP administration and be engaged gainfully to secure their future.
Meanwhile, ahead of the April 24 commencement of campaigns for the Edo State Governorship Election, a former Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriation, Mathew Urhoghide, has been appointed as the Director-General of Senator Monday Okpebholo/Dennis Idahosa Governorship Campaign Organisation.
The announcement was made at the weekend in Benin during a ceremony where several top members of PDP and LP defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Elated by the welcome home party, Urhoghide, a foundation member of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the legacy parties of APC, said that he returned to APC, after 13 years of sojourn in PDP, in view of the trust and confidence he had in the leadership of the ruling party.
He said: “I have come back to the fold of mature politicians to help build the APC. I did not come for bread and butter. All the stakeholders must come together for APC’s governorship candidate to emerge victorious.
“I have accepted my nomination as the DG of Okpebholo/Idahosa Governorship Campaign Organisation. The task is huge, but surmountable. It is not going to be an easy journey, but by the grace of God, we will win the governorship election.
I will need the support of everybody to achieve victory. We will make promises during the campaigns, and the promises will be fulfilled. That’s why my people in Edo South Senatorial District nicknamed me ‘The Promise Keeper.’