Following the submission of a report by the Prof. Julius Ihonvbere-led Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which pruned down the number of APC governorship aspirants from 29 to six in Edo State, a socio-political group under the platform of United For Greater Edo (UFGE), has said that a member of House of Representatives, representing Ovia federal constituency, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, was the surest bet to fly the party’s flag to victory if he eventually emerged the party’s candidate for the forthcoming governorship election.
The group said Idahosa’s emergence among a pack of six shortlisted aspirants, who are all notable contestants, was also a clear pointer to his popularity and capability to bring in the votes for the APC.
Reports have it that the APC panel had shortlisted Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe as aspirants to vie for the APC ticket.
Others picked were chairman of the APC in the state, retired Col. David Imuse, (Edo Central), and a former minister of Budget and Planning, Prince Clem Agba, (Edo North).
The group, while commending the Prof. Ihonvbere-led screening panel for what it described as a thorough exercise, noted that the APC must ensure that the party is united before, during and after the primary election, for the bigger battle of rescuing the state from the suffocating grip of the Governor Andrew Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They noted that the aspiration of Hon. Idahosa was divine and will bring about a positive change in the governance of the state, adding that his political trajectory pointed to the fact that the experienced and popular federal lawmaker has written his name in gold as far as the politics of Edo State was concerned.
They also appealed to the leadership and members of the party to rally round the aspiration of Idahosa at the forthcoming primaries.
Convener of UFGE, Abel Aigbondion, in a statement made available to journalists in Benin City, said Idahosa has demonstrated capacity, political sagacity and experience to bring in the votes for the APC.
According to him, “We are very much impressed with what he has been able to achieve in Ovia within a limited period and urged him to continue in that direction.
“While Ovia people remain the beneficiaries of Idahosa’s magic wand, we however want the generality of people of the state to be part of Idahosa school of politics of good governance.
“What we are saying in essence is that we are supporting him and also calling on the people to do the same so that he can replicate the same thing he has done in Ovia to the state.
“Idahosa is not only young and hardworking, he has shown that what truly matters to him is the happiness of his people and that is exactly the kind of governor we should desire come 2024.”
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