Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on Wednesday, June 17, urged voters in Ovia South West Local Government Area to vote massively for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the July 11, 2026 local government elections.
Idahosa made the appeal at the flag-off of the APC campaign for Ovia South West Local Government Area, held at the Iguobazuwa Town Hall field.
Addressing a large crowd of party leaders, political appointees, party faithful and supporters, the Deputy Governor said local government chairmen and councillors elected on the platform of the APC must deliver on their constitutional responsibilities under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
According to him, the essence of local government administration is to bring development closer to the people.
“Local government chairmen and councillors must fulfil their constitutional mandates. This is not the time to keep money in your pockets,” Idahosa said.
“There must be dividends of democracy. They must bring the dividends of democracy to the doorstep of the common man. The expectation of our people is that they should use the resources of the local government to work, not only for APC members, but for the people of Ovia South West. We must hold them accountable.”
Idahosa urged APC candidates in the council area to conduct themselves responsibly and work in the interest of the people if elected.
He also cautioned voters against the influence of divisive political actors, saying some leaders only resurface during election periods to mislead the electorate. He encouraged the people to remain steadfast and vote for APC candidates in the forthcoming election.
The Deputy Governor said the campaign flag-off provided an opportunity for party leaders to interact with the electorate and market the credibility, capacity and suitability of the APC candidates in Ovia South West.
He called on eligible voters to come out with their Permanent Voter Cards and vote for the party.
“Come with your Personal Voter Cards to vote en masse for your APC candidates during the July 11, 2026 local government election,” he said.
“With the calibre of people our party has put forward as candidates, we are compelling every other political party to also campaign and see if they will find ten people in Ovia South West. Ovia South West is an APC enclave.”
Idahosa also highlighted what he described as the gains of APC governance and grassroots development in the area. He commended the outgoing Chairman of Ovia South West Local Government Council, Hon. Nosakhare Edobor, who was present at the event, for executing at least one project in each of the ten wards of the council.
He said the projects were evidence that the APC-led administration was working in the interest of the people.
The APC chairmanship candidate, Mr. Osarobo Anthony, his running mate, Mr. Bakare Isaac, and the ten councillorship candidates were formally presented to the electorate during the event.
Speaking on behalf of the candidates, Osarobo Anthony said his mission was to take the developmental drive of Governor Okpebholo to the grassroots.
He said the people of Ovia South West had seen the good works of the governor and wanted the same development replicated across the local government area. He promised to build on and surpass the achievements of the outgoing council chairman if elected.
Earlier, the APC Chairman in Ovia South West Local Government Area, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbomo, and the member representing the area in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Sunday Aghedo, addressed the crowd and urged party members to mobilise strongly for victory.
The campaign flag-off attracted party leaders, executives, supporters and candidates’ groups, who displayed banners, emblems and posters amid music and jubilation.
