The Edo State chapters of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP), have reacted to claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that the only candidate and political party that has the structure to win the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state is Dr. Asue Ighodalo and the PDP.
Recall that the Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the Oredo Local Government Campaign Council, Crusoe Osagie, who stated this on Monday while addressing journalists in Benin City, also said the candidates of the two political parties lacked the requisite experience to govern the state.
But in his reaction, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Prince Peter Igbinigie, said Okpebholo has more experience in politics than Ighodalo, considering that he won a Senatorial election under APC in Esanland regarded as a PDP stronghold.
Besides, he said the narrative about Okpebholo lacking the acumen to lead the state as claimed by the PDP, was spurious as Okpebholo has told the electorate his programme if elected and that he doesn’t need grammar to fix Edo problems.
The APC spokesman pointed out that Okpebholo who ran a business from the scratch to become successful, cannot be said to lack capacity or experience.
“Okpebholo has done more than his PDP counterpart for the Esan people. He gave millions of naira in donation and gave five vehicles when the security outfit was established in Esan to combat the activities of criminals, while Ighodalo gave N100, 000”, Igbinigie disclosed.
On his part, the Public Relations Officer of the LP, Sam Uruopa, said the only experience Akpata does not have is in embezzling public funds which PDP and APC are noted for.
On the claim that Akpata’s governorship ambition was designed to jeopardize the interest of the South Senatorial District, and that the people of the state have agreed to cede governorship to the Central Senatorial District, Uruopa countered that the party could not be talking of zoning when it had never held power in the state.
He stated that the party primary election was fair, transparent and credible, with the best candidate emerging despite having seven people from Edo Central contesting.
He described Akpata as a successful lawyer who has done well in business who left N1.5 billion in the coffers of the Nigeria Bar Association when he left the office after two years, wondering how many PDP governors leave such in the state coffers when leaving office.
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