BENIN CITY — With just weeks to go before the August 16, 2025 by-elections, Governor Monday Okpebholo has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) battle-ready, citing renewed grassroots momentum and a growing exodus of key figures from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The declaration was made during a political rally held in Okada, the administrative seat of Ovia North-East Local Government Area, where the governor formally received a fresh batch of prominent defectors into the APC fold.
Among them were Hon. Andrew Edobor Uzamere, a serving member of the Edo State House of Assembly; former council chairman Hon. Peter Ekhator; Hon. Uwaifo; Hon. Christopher Igodalo; and their loyal supporters.
Their defection, coming barely three weeks to the by-elections, is seen by analysts as a significant political gain for the APC and a setback for the PDP in a state where both parties are locked in a fierce contest for dominance.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Okpebholo attributed the wave of defections to what he described as growing confidence in his administration’s performance and commitment to tangible governance.
“We are not strangers to Edo,” he declared. “We are sons of the soil, my mother, my father, my deputy, all Edo born. So, we must work for our people.”
Contrasting his leadership style with that of the previous administration, Okpebholo said the APC in Edo does not believe in governance driven by election cycles.
“That is not our style,” he said. “We deliver from day one moving from one project to another without waiting for elections.”
He also reaffirmed his campaign pledge to deliver 2.5 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a promise he now sees as “becoming a reality” in light of the swelling support base across the state.
The governor hinted that the APC’s campaign for the Ovia Federal Constituency by-election would soon be in full swing, singling out the party’s candidate, nicknamed “madam projects” as a credible figure with a record of public service.
He also referred to his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, as “Mr. Projects,” in reference to the administration’s fast-paced developmental drive.
In their remarks, Hon. Uzamere and Hon. Ekhator said their decision to join the APC stemmed from a shared belief in Governor Okpebholo’s leadership and the party’s new direction.
“We’re here because we believe in the vision,” Uzamere said.
The event drew top party stalwarts, including Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Ganiyu Audu; former Deputy Governor, Chief Lucky Imasuen; Senator Matthew Urhoghide; and State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe. Each of them described the high-profile defections as a clear endorsement of the Okpebholo administration’s results-driven governance.
Deputy Governor Idahosa, in his remarks, said that the APC’s expanding appeal across Edo is not merely about political slogans, but the concrete transformation that citizens are witnessing in their communities.
