Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, expressed optimism about his party’s victory. Oshiomhole, after visiting President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, confidently stated that the APC’s candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, would defeat Mr. Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “Why should we even bother about shortcuts? Any day, we would defeat Asue Ighodalo,” he told journalists regarding his party’s chances.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole briefed journalists in Abuja on July 6, 2024, Image Credit: Channels Television.
Oshiomhole claimed that all PDP members in Egor Local Government Area had defected to the APC, although this claim lacked evidence. He stated that he was in the Presidential Villa to update President Tinubu on the APC’s campaign activities in Edo State. “We went with the candidate and the running mate to give the President an update on the campaigns and the fact that we are harvesting more people every day. I’m surprised that rather than speculating about who will face what, you are not witnessing that the entire PDP in Egor, a month ago, all the wards, decamped to APC,” he said.
Oshiomhole also denied that the crisis within the Edo State PDP, resulting from the invalidation of their governorship primary, was orchestrated by the APC. He explained that the issue was purely an internal PDP matter, emphasizing the importance of parties obeying their rules and the Electoral Act. According to Channels Television News reports, Oshiomhole said, “So what power do I have? How can we, a non-state group, have power to influence a seasoned politician to move against themselves? This is purely PDP intra-party".