Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jarret Tenebe, said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is afraid of being defeated ahead of the elections for the two National Assembly vacant seats in the state slated for August 16, 2025.
Tenebe, who was apparently reacting to the call by the chairman of PDP Caretaker Committee, Tony Aziegbemi, for the redeployment of the state resident electoral commissioner (REC), Dr Anugbum Onuaha, ahead of the by-election.
Aziegbemi had claimed that the REC’s actions during the last governorship polls in the state undermined the credibility and integrity of the electoral process and should not be allowed to oversee the by-election.
But in a swift reaction, Tenebe stated that the PDP was lamenting the defeat awaiting its candidates in the by-election.
According to him, “Aziegbemi and his weary and tired political urchins’ fear is caused by the unprecedented achievements Governor Monday Okpebholo has recorded in just eight months in office.
“We will advise Aziegbemi and his half a dozen PDP members to brace up to accept the pain of the impending defeats that await them.
“Governor Okpebholo’s achievements have led thousands of politicians out of the PDP, and, in fact, we have torn the umbrella into shreds, and the reality is that, in this coming election, and that of 2027, Edo people have made up their minds to vote massively for our party, the APC.
“As of today, no other political party exists in the state, except the APC.
“Governor Okpebholo’s achievements, since his assumption, have attracted many PDP members with good conscience to join us in our drive to give the state all-round development,” Tenebe said.
He added that the APC administration at both federal and state levels had initiated lifesaving projects and would still do more to improve the standards of living.
“The long-abandoned roads, schools, hospitals and others are receiving attention.
“There is also a marked improvement in security in our dear Edo State as a result of Governor Okpebholo’s re-engineering of the security architecture.
“The administration has also embarked on a massive recruitment of teachers to train pupils and students in our public schools.
“So, come August 16, Edo people will troop out en masse to vote for our candidates, Hon Joe Ikpea and Hon Omosede Igbinedion, who we have presented for the vacant Senate and Federal House of Representatives seats.
“On August 16, 2025, the APC is determined to prove to our leader, President Bola Tinubu, that the 2.5 million votes Edo State people promised him is possible,” he said.
