The Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on Saturday expressed confidence that the 2027 presidential election would be less challenging for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, citing the President’s performance and the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo in Edo State.
Idahosa spoke at the APC Collation Centre in Iguobazuwa Town Hall, Ovia South West Local Government Area, shortly after the party’s presidential primary election.
According to him, the APC in Edo State would mobilise massive support for President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
“The entire APC will work for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Edo State,” Idahosa said. “The primary election is not the issue. We know these primaries are going to be seamless, but we should prepare for the general election.”
The Returning Officer for the APC Presidential Primary Election in Ovia South West Local Government Area, Mr. Frank Adegbudo, announced President Tinubu as the winner of the exercise after collation of results from the 10 wards in the council area.
Adegbudo said Tinubu polled 10,044 votes to emerge victorious, while his sole challenger, Mr. Stanley Osifo, recorded no votes.
Addressing journalists after the exercise, Idahosa described the direct primary election as peaceful, credible and transparent, noting that the process reflected the party’s commitment to grassroots participation.
“The process was peaceful, credible and transparent,” he said.
Speaking on the result in his ward, Iguobazuwa West Ward in Ovia South West Local Government Area, Idahosa said President Tinubu secured all the votes cast, while Osifo failed to record any vote.
“I believe it is going to be this way across the country because Asiwaju has shown that he is a strong, transformative and consistent leader,” he added.
The deputy governor also commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for what he described as developmental strides in Edo State.
“Okpebholo is a man of the people; he is a man we can trust. He is also the leader of our party at the state level,” Idahosa said, adding that the governor had turned the state into “a construction site.”
Meanwhile, Idahosa later visited Ovia North East Local Government Area, where he met with APC ward executives at Oluku Ward 6.
He said the visit was aimed at ensuring that the electoral process remained credible and transparent, especially as one of the contestants, Stanley Osifo, hails from the ward.
“One of our own from this ward is contesting for the presidential seat under the APC with our president. I wanted to ensure that the process is credible and transparent and that there is no intimidation. It is a party affair. After the primaries, we will need each other for the general election,” he said.
At the end of voting in Oluku Ward 6, the Returning Officer, Dumez Onaiwu Ugiagbe, declared Tinubu winner with 1,023 votes, while Osifo secured one vote.
He also described the exercise as peaceful and credible.
Earlier, APC leader Hon. Benson Edosomwan said party faithful had unanimously resolved to support President Tinubu in line with party supremacy.
