Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo state has said that his victory in the 2024 governorship election could be, to a greater extent, attributed to his choice of Dennis Idahosa as his deputy.

Okpebholo, who described his deputy governor as his brother, said, “I won because I made the right choice in him.”

The governor made the declaration while receiving a number of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at Okada, the administrative headquarters of Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement endorsed Friday Aghedo, the Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Okpebholo was quoted to have reiterated that he had enjoyed a cordial working relationship with his deputy and assured that they would continue in the same stead for the good of the people.

“We are working well together. I wouldn’t have won the election if I had chosen another person as deputy,” Governor Okpebholo reiterated.

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Okpebholo reistated his administration’s commitment to the people of Edo State and its indigenous roots, which he said was the reason he must do his best for the people.

According to him, “Why are we working for Edo people? We are working for Edo because we are confirmed sons of the soil. We are not foreigners. We were not borrowed from somewhere else.

“My mother is an Esan woman. My father is an Esan man. I grew up there. My deputy, the same Edo. So, if we are from here, we must work for our people.”

He highlighted his government’s continuous developmental projects as evidence of its dedication, contrasting it with what he described as the “pattern of the immediate-past government” which waited until election periods to roll out projects.

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“That is why you see us move from executing one project to another. We do not wait until election period before we roll out projects. We do not believe that we can develop in that manner.” The governor emphasised.

This was just as he expressed his confidence in delivering on his promise of 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating, “I can see it coming to reality today.”

He assured the people that his administration’s performance would soon earn their appreciation.

“By the time we are three years old as a government, I know people will sit down and thank God. You will thank God for giving us the opportunity to serve.”

Addressing the issue of the by-election in Ovia Federal Constituency, Governor Okpebholo told the crowd, “In the next few days, I will be coming back here for a campaign to let our people know that the choice for Ovia Federal Constituency is the right choice for the people.”

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He also humorously referred to the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, as “Mr. Projects,” and introduced the House of Representatives candidate in the 16 August by-election, Omosede Igbinedion, as “madam projects”.

Among the prominent defectors welcomed into the APC were Hon. Andrew Edobor Uzamere, the sitting member representing Ovia North Constituency II in the Edo State House of Assembly; Hon. Peter Ekhator, a former council chairman; Hon. Uwaifo; Hon. Christopher Igodalo; and their numerous followers.

Other speakers at the event, including deputy governor Dennis Idahosa and the State APC Chairman Jarrett Tenebe, praised Governor Okpebholo’s performance, which they said was the primary reason many were joining the party.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hon. Andrew Uzamere and Hon. Peter Ekhator expressed their happiness and pledged their commitment to working with the APC political family.

The event was well-attended by key party stakeholders, including the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku; other House of Assembly members; Chief of Staff to the Edo State Governor, Hon. Ganiyu Audu; Senator Mathew Uroghide, and former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Imasuen.

Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has reacted to the call by the state PDP for the redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Anugbum Onuaha, and electoral officers ahead of the by-elections for Edo Central Senatorial District; and Ovia Federal House of Representatives Constituency.

The PDP had earlier called for the urgent redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Anugbum Onuaha, and electoral officers previously assigned to key local government areas, citing concerns over their credibility and impartiality.

But reacting to the call in a statement made available to INFO DAILY Tuesday night, state chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, said the call was a clear indication that the PDP was not ready for the August 16, 2025 by-elections.

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According to Tenebe, the opponent “fear is caused by the unprecedented achievements that His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo has recorded in just eight months.”

The APC chairman,while noting that “on August 16, 2025, the APC is determined to prove to our leader—President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the 2.5million votes Edo State people promised him is possible,” added: “Governor Okpebholo’s achievements has 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.

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“The APC administration at both Federal and State levels have initiated lifesaving projects, and still doing more to improve the standards of living. The long abandoned roads, schools, hospitals and other infrastructures 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 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.”

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been expelled from the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Announcing his expulsion from the party, SDP also imposed a 30-year ban on El-Rufai.

SDP’s National Working Committee, NWC, said the action was in line with the party’s constitution, ideology, manifesto, principles, and practices, as well as in consonance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act pertaining to the exclusive right of a political party to determine its membership.

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A statement by the party’s spokesman, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, warned members against associating with El-Rufai and those who don’t represent its interest.

Parts of the statement read: “El-Rufai is hereby banished and banned from applying for membership, identifying with the name, insignia, logo, symbol, mark, or any activities, organs, agencies, and institutions of the SDP or donating to, supporting, contributing to, or participating in any affairs of the SDP for a period of 30 years effective from today.”

It would be recalled that El-Rufai joined the SDP after quiting the All Progressives Congress, APC.

However, El-Rufai is also a key member of the opposition coalition which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress, ADC, as its platform ahead of the 2027 election.