According to a report from Vanguard, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dared the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, to walk the streets of Benin City without facing the wrath of the people.
Speaking at the inauguration of the local government and ward campaign councils of Oredo Local Government Area, the APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, Dennis Idahosa, issued the challenge.
"We want Obaseki to take the hands of his candidate, Asue Ighodalo and walk round the streets of Benin City and other places in the state and Oshiomhole will take the hand of Okpebholo and do the same thing and see what will happen. If Obaseki does not wear a helmet, he will come back bleeding because he is completely disconnected from the people," Idahosa said.
The APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, also joined in the scathing attack on the incumbent governor and his PDP counterpart.
"If elected, my administration would not listen to gossip, we will be there to work for Edo people so that there will be progress in the state. We are ready to send them packing because they have failed us," Okpebholo declared.
The Director General of the APC Campaign Council, Senator Matthew Uroghide, expressed confidence in the party's ability to win the election, citing the party's candidates who are sitting members of the National Assembly as evidence of their strong connection with the people.
"Oredo is the heartbeat of politics in Edo South and most of the political bigwigs in Oredo including myself who had been in different political parties are now all in one party so the victory of the party is sure," Uroghide said.
The APC also called on its members who are still angry with the outcome of the governorship primaries to put aside their differences and work for the party's victory, which, according to the Deputy Governorship Candidate, can only be achieved as a united family.
The party's campaign strategy for the Oredo Local Government Area was discussed in a closed-door meeting, with the Director General of the Campaign Council, Osaro Obazee, promising a new approach that departs from the "usual campaigning."