According to the report from the Vanguard, The Director General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Organisation, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, expressed confidence yesterday that the achievements of the party's governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, will lead the party to victory in the upcoming September 21 gubernatorial election.
Speaking with journalists in Benin City, Urhoghide addressed criticisms from opposition parties that labeled Okpebholo as incompetent. He countered these claims, emphasizing Okpebholo's ability to assemble a capable team and his proven administrative skills.
Urhoghide remarked, “It is very uncomplimentary for anybody to say that our candidate is incompetent. I think it is too early in the day for anybody to say who is incompetent or not. Even if anybody is a dunce, the ability to put eggheads together means that person has administrative competence.”
Urhoghide highlighted Okpebholo’s previous electoral success as a testament to his capability, stating, “It is a good thing that our candidate had contested election in Edo Central senatorial district and had secured the mandate of the people and won. So, as a candidate, I think it is a lot easier in addition to what he has done and it is quite auspicious the time he has indicated interest to contest for the governorship.”
He further emphasized the party's broad appeal across the state: “For Edo North, the APC as a party has been able to secure the mandate of the people through Senator Adams Oshiomhole. So, in a way if you look at Edo South complimenting Edo Central and North, the party enjoys popularity for the governorship.”
Urhoghide also praised Idahosa’s contributions, noting, “His running mate is the incumbent member of the House of Representatives from Ovia and he is doing his second term. Our candidate’s vis-a-vis the party are enjoying popularity in their different constituencies so the party is prepared more than any other party in the contest.”
Addressing concerns about potential federal interference, Urhoghide dismissed such fears, reflecting on his own political journey: “It has always been a recurring thing people talk about. What is the ‘federal might’ going to do with the election? The former President Muhammadu Buhari is an APC man, I went to the Senate as a PDP, the governor in my state was APC, but the federal might did not stop me from going to the Senate.”
He added, “When I finished my tenure in 2019, I was asking for renewal, the governor then was Adams Oshiomhole. APC put up a formidable candidate in the person of Samson Osagie against me and they lost and I won. The eight years I was in the Senate, Buhari was there. We are going to do this election on the basis of merit and we are going to see that our candidates win based on what they have done.”
Urhoghide’s remarks underscore the APC's confidence in their candidates' abilities and their readiness for the upcoming election, emphasizing a campaign built on proven performance and administrative competence.