The governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has revealed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) pleaded with him to contest for the Edo Central Senatorial seat in the 2023 general election, despite his initial reluctance to enter politics.
Speaking at an event on Sunday, Governor Okpebholo recounted how he was persuaded to run for office due to the absence of interested contenders within the party.
“If you look at me very well, I am not the talking type. I have never been interested in politics,” he said. “But I want to see that where I come from is developed. That was the drive, and that was the spirit. Nobody wanted to contest for Senate under APC, but they were fighting and killing themselves to get House of Assembly tickets in the PDP.”
The governor further shared that his candidacy resulted from a concerted effort by party stakeholders.
“Three people came into my house and said, ‘We have come to tell you to contest for Senate.’ That rejected stone—today, everybody is turning to APC,” he said.
Looking ahead, Governor Okpebholo predicted significant political shifts in the South-South region, pointing to a broader alignment with the federal government’s development agenda.
“Very soon, there will be wings flying left and right. People will be moving, cross-carpeting. That is the beginning of the South-South coming together under the common transformation agenda of Mr. President, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Okpebholo stated.
