Edo 2024: Shettima, Akpabio, Ganduje Back Okpebholo for Governor, Dismiss ‘Grammar’ Debate—VP Says Intelligence Isn’t Measured by Head Size as APC Rallies Support

Shooting down the campaign rhetoric of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Edo State about alleged incompetence of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Monday Okpebholo, and his inability to communicate effectively in the English language, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who led other APC bigwigs to the Mega Rally of the party on Saturday insisted that intelligence is not determined by the size of the head but one’s ability to solve problems that affect the people.

Nigeria’s Senate President and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, who said he believed in the capacity of Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, both federal lawmakers, to deliver on their electoral mandate if elected, said he didn’t need somebody who can speak “grammar” but one who can perform.

Speaking at the rally held at the indoors sports complex of the University of Benin, Ugbowo campus, Vice President Shettima said Edo State needed a strategic thinker, builder and a man with a compassionate heart that can lead his people aright.

The former Borno State governor said he had absolute confidence in Senator Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state and urged the electorates to come out in their large number to vote the APC and its candidates come September 21.

Vouching for Senator Okpebholo’s competence, Senator Akpabio said as a senator, had been living up to his billings, stressing that there was no doubt about his ability to deliver the dividends of democracy at all.

Also speaking, the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of insensitivity to the plight of the people of the state, stating that there was nothing to write home about his eight years in office as the governor of the state.

He noted that none of the markets that got burnt during his tenure, had been rebuilt; rather, the hospital and the state library had been converted into museum and a shopping mall, respectively.

Abdullahi Ganduje, national chairman of the party, who alleged that the state had been mismanaged for the past eight years as it had been plagued with insecurity and unemployment, said it was time for them to take it back by voting the APC.

Ganduje said with the likes of Senator Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, who are lawmakers, the state “is in safe hands”.

Addressing the rally, Okpebholo, the governorship candidate, said he would employ 5,000 teachers within his first 100 days in office. Promising market women soft loans to boost their businesses, Okpebholo also said he would build primary healthcare centres in the 192 wards in the state.

Earlier the national chairman of the party, received former senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Francis Alimikhena, and the former member representing Oredo Federal constituency, Engr. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who defected from the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) into the APC fold.

Speaking, Senator Alimikhena, who said he was glad to be back to the APC, said he was going to mobilise his followers to vote for the party in the forthcoming governorship election.

On his part, Ogbeide-Ihama said he had earlier advised his former party, the PDP, against its decision when it brought in Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020, but they didn’t listen to him. He said also advised when they again brought in Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate of the PDP, but they still did not listen to him

“In 2020, I advised PDP against impunity when they brought in Governor Godwin Obaseki through the back door. In 2024, Governor Godwin Obaseki, His Excellency, who came through the back door, went to Lagos to bring Asue Ighodalo through the back door. The man only joined the party in September last year. That impunity must be stopped.

“All those who supported that, the national working committee, they should come with their Voter Cards on Saturday. And for those who didn’t face their states and said that the governor must produce his successor, they should also come on Saturday.

“The governor and I are from the same local government. The results will tell. We did that for him in 2020; we will do it again for Monday Okpebholo in 2024”.

Among APC chieftains who graced the grand finale of the APC governorship campaign rally were Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Cross River State, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Lucky Oyedatiwa of Ondo State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.