In preparation for 2024 Governorship election in Edo State, the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Umar Ganduje on Monday 18th March 2024 presented the Governorship candidate of the party Senator Monday Okpebohle and his running mate Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa (Denco) to the president of Nigeria His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
APC seem to have put their house in order in settlement of internal crisis in the party as the two leading candidates during the primary election has come together to work together as Flag bearer and running mate in the election.
Recall that in February 2024, APC conducted primary election two times where the two camps of Senator Monday Okpebohle and Rt. Honourable Denis Idahosa (Denco) claimed to have won their primary election.
APC gave certificate of return to Senator Monday Okpebohle recognizing him as the true winner of the primary election and the authentic flag bearer of the party for the Edo State Governorship election.
The former Governor of Edo State and incumbent senator representing Edo North Senatorial District Senator Adams Aliyu Oshimohle was present in Aso Villa during the presentation of the candidates to the president of Nigeria. He has also congratulated Senator Monday Okpebohle for his election victory.
Senator Monday Okpebohle is the incumbent Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District while Rt. Hon. Denis Idahosa (Denco) represents Ovia North Federal constituency at the National Assembly. The former is from Edo Central District while the latter is from Edo South Senatorial District.
The coming together of the different APC factions after the primary has jiltered the camp of PDP and LP ahead of the election as APC seems to be going to poll with no internal crisis.
In the three Senatorial District, Senator Monday Okpebohle is from Esan dominated area of the District and has the candidate of PDP Barrister Asue Ighodalo to battle the total votes or support from the Senatorial District. Rt. Honourable Denis Idahosa is from Edo South Senatorial District and will face the supporters of Labour Party candidate Barrister Olumide Akpata and supporters of the incumbent Governor of Edo State His Excellency Godwin Obaseki who will like to deliver the candidate of his party in the election. Denco, Obaseki and Olumide are all from Edo South Senatorial District.
Edo North Senatorial District don’t seem to have a candidate that emerged from the three leading parties though it’s not clear if the deputy Governor of Edo State Comrade Philips Shaibu has been pacified to drop his ambition in the Governorship election. Senator Adams Oshimohle of APC and Comrade Philips Shaibu of PDP are both from Edo North Senatorial District. The Monday outing on the visitation of the Nigerian president has given a green light that Oshimohle is supporting Okpebohle/Denco joint ticket for APC victory in the election.