Ahead of the September 21 Edo State governorship election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly formed an alliance with Prince Tom Iseghohi-Okojie, the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Alliance (AA).

This alliance is seen as a game-changing factor in securing a landslide victory, with the combined power of both parties
expected to mobilize at least 500,000 voters on election day.

In a press statement titled “Let the Masses Live,” Prince Iseghohi-Okojie expressed his heartfelt commitment to the people of Edo and outlined his reasons for stepping down from the gubernatorial race to support APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpevbolo.

The decision, he emphasized, was a move rooted in the desire to unify efforts and ensure the prosperity of Edo State.

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The Prince, whose grassroots network boasts over 65,000 members and capacity to mobilize 250,000 to 500,000 votes on election day, explained that the alliance with APC brings together
the strength of two powerful structures, with a vision to transform Edo State.

“I ran because I believe in a better Edo, but I now realize that the best way to deliver on my promise to the people is by aligning with someone who has a stronger party platform and whose vision is consistent  with mine,” he stated.

On what formed his decision to support the APC candidate, he said though Okpevbolo may not be known for his public charisma, he possesses the quiet strength, strategic thinking, and grassroots connections necessary to lead Edo out of its current challenges.

“He is a grassroots man, deeply connected to the people,
and he understands their pain,” he said.

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“His humility is his strength, and his ability to navigate complex issues behind the scenes is what makes him the leader Edo needs.”

He assured his supporters that he would remain deeply involved in the campaign, helping to manage media relations, acting as a surrogate for Okpevbolo when necessary, and crafting an economic plan to pull Edo out of inflation and unemployment. He outlined a vision to  attract billions of dollars in investment and create 250,000 jobs over the next three years.

This alliance between APC and AA is not just a power-sharing agreement—it is a carefully orchestrated strategy designed to deliver a historic victory.

“The collaboration will combine APC’s federal might, Okpevbolo’s community affinity and Prince Tom’s grassroots mobilization structure, setting the stage for a decisive win that neither APC nor PDP could achieve on their own.

“With a strong message of unity, Prince Tom called on his supporters and all citizens of Edo State to rally behind the APC and Senator Monday Okpevbolo, promising a future of peace, unity, growth, stability, and prosperity for the state,” he said.

The debate organised for governorship candidates of various political parties on Sunday ahead of the Edo State governorship election was shunned by the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

The debate organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council in conjunction with the Broadcasting Organisation Nigeria (BON) and the Nigerian Election Debate Group (NERD), was attended by governorship candidates of Labour Party, LP, Barr. Olumide Akpata; Action Democratic Congress, ADC, Derek Izedonwmen and Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, Miss Patience Ndidi.

The debate could not hold due to the absence of the APC and PDP candidates, but the candidates who showed up were given opportunity to speak briefly.

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In his brief speech, the LP candidate, Akpata described failure by the APC and PDP candidates to honour the invitation to debate as an outright disregard not to the NUJ and BON, but Edo people, urging residents to call out the candidates and use their votes to do justice to them at the poll.

Akpata, who claimed the two candidates depend on violence and manipulations to win the governorship election, and that that is why they did not show up, also charged media organisations and executives to condemn the action by the two candidates in their editorials, writing, among others.

The LP candidate who wondered why a candidate should intend of governing a state without coming out to tell the people what he has for them, said: “Asue Ighodalo comes from the private sector like I do, but if I may ask, as chairman of board of several companies, did he employ any intending employee without an interview? This is a simple logic.

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“But because they intend to win election through violence and manipulation, they feel there is no need for coming out to tell Edo people why they should vote for them. This act must stop.

“I will implore the media to condemn this. I expect to see headlines and editorials as from tomorrow condemning this total disrespect for Edo people.”

On her part, PRP’s Ndidi said people are giving these two political parties undue regards, stressing that this is why they have taken the people for granted.

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“For me, leadership is about the people and respect for the people. But see what has happened. This is an outright disrespect for the people. I condemn this act. By the way, people are giving them undue respect this is why they feel too important. We need to stop giving them the respect they do not deserve; The popularity they do not deserve,” she said.

ADC candidate, Izedonwmen said it’s quite unfortunate that the two political parties copied what Tinubu did in 2023, where he declined to honour debate invite but still won the election, urging Edo people to stand against this.

More coming soon…

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kassim Shettima; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and nine All Progressives Congress (APC) governors attended the mega rally of the party to rap up its campaign for the September 21 governorship election.

Others at the rally were serving ministers and members of the House of Representatives, amongst other dignitaries.

Shettima said Edo State needs a strategic thinker, builder and a man with a compassionate heart that can lead his people right, adding that intelligence is not determined by the size of the head but ability to solve problems that affect the people.

Shettima said he has “absolute confidence in Senator Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state”

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He urged the people of the state to come out in large numbers to vote for the candidates of the APC next Saturday.

He said the people don’t need somebody who can speak grammar but one who can perform.

On his part, Senator Akpabio said Okpebholo as a senator, has been living up to his billings in the Senate and that there is no doubt about his ability to deliver the dividends of democracy.

Addressing the crowd, former governor of the state, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole said Governor Godwin Obaseki “has been insensitive to the plights of the people of the state. There is nothing to write home about his eight years in office as the governor of the state.

“Markets that were burnt during his tenure were not rebuilt; rather the hospital and the state library have been converted into museums and a shopping mall, respectively.”

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On the part of the national chairman of the party, Umar Ganduje, he said the state has been mismanaged for the past eight years as it was marred with insecurity, and unemployment and that it is time for them to take it back by voting for the APC.

On the part of the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Monday Okpebholo, he said he would employ 5000 teachers within his 100 days in office as governor of the state.

He assured the market women of soft loans to boost their businesses just as he promised to build primary healthcare around the 192 wards in the state.

Earlier the national chairman of the party, Ganduje received a former senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Senator Francis Alimikhena and the former member representing Oredo federal constituency, Engr. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama who decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC.

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Alimikhena said he was glad to be back in the APC and that he was going to mobilize his followers to vote for the party in the forthcoming governorship election.

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 also advised when they again brought in Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate of the PDP they still not listen to him