Political heavyweights of the All Progressives Congress from Edo South Senatorial District met in Benin City to strategize on defeating the People’s Democratic Party in the September 21 governorship election.
Notable leaders present included Dr. Pius Odubu, Lucky Imansuen, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Sen. Matthew Uroghide, and others.
The meeting, dubbed “Edo South APC Leadership Family Conversation,” was convened by APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, who condemned the current Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration, saying, “Since Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s administration ended, development has been on holidays in the state.”
Idahosa vowed that their administration would make Obaseki account for every penny his administration has spent and called on the people of Edo South to come out and vote for the APC, promising that their votes would be defended till the announcement of the results.
The leader of the party in Edo South, Dr. Pius Odubu, said Obaseki’s actions and policies have underdeveloped the state, with tales of unfulfilled promises, and urged party faithful to work together to deliver APC in the election. “With the caliber of leaders here today, Edo South is poised to rise again. We have realized our failings and are determined that this time around, we will deliver APC. It is a straight contest between APC and PDP.”
Odubu recalled the achievements of the APC government, saying, “When APC was at the helm of affairs, you saw massive road construction and rehabilitation across the 18 local government areas, hospitals were built, and civil servants were paid as and when due. Sadly, all the gains recorded by Oshiomhole were reversed.”
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu emphasized that winning Edo South for APC is a task that must be done, adding that for any party to win the governorship, it must first win Edo South Senatorial District. He described Obaseki as a tyrant who must not be allowed to install a successor in the September governorship election, noting that the PDP candidate cannot be trusted.
Other speakers, including Adams and Eweka, criticized Obaseki’s administration, with Eweka saying the people of Edo South were the largest victims of Obaseki’s “mis-governance.”
Special guests, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, expressed confidence in the party’s unity and victory in the election.
Oshiomhole said, “I know our governor and his deputy will respect not only the Oba but the palace and the traditional institutions in the state unlike others. With the unity of the leaders of Edo South, delivering Edo South is a done deal, I have no doubt about that at all.”
Tenebe emphasized that there was no longer dichotomy in the party, saying all members of the PDP like the Legacy Group were formally in the APC and there should no longer be sectional meetings.
