Edo senatorial aspirant urges APC leaders to back best candidate

Edo South senatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, on Saturday appealed to senatorial leaders of the party to give the ticket to the most qualified aspirant, noting that the ticket should not be treated as a gift.

He made the appeal in Benin when he visited the leadership of the Edo South senatorial district to declare his intention to contest for the Senate.

Ogbeide-Ihama said all the contestants were qualified, but having gone to the House of Representatives twice, he believes he is the most experienced to be saddled with the responsibility, and not someone who wants to learn on the job.

The former member of the House of Representatives revealed that he had heard from some quarters that he went to meet the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for support in order to secure the party’s ticket.

He said if such was true, there was nothing wrong in doing so, adding that everyone needs help, and that if meeting Wike could guarantee him the ticket, it was fine by him.

Ogbeide-Ihama, while recounting his ordeals when contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, said his billboards were pulled down several times yet he won the election. He added that now that he has joined the APC, the election should be easier since he is now one of them.

He said: “I appeal to the senatorial leaders of our party to give the ticket to the most qualified aspirant and not treat the ticket as a gift.

“I heard from some quarters that I have gone to meet the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for help in order to get the party’s ticket. There is nothing wrong in doing so because everyone needs help, and if meeting Wike can guarantee me the ticket, it is fine by me.”

He further appealed to the party leadership to recognise that times are changing and the world is gravitating towards the youth. He said, as a youth, he should be allowed to represent the senatorial district because he still has the strength and energy to champion the cause of the seven local government areas that make up Edo South Senatorial District.

While highlighting his achievements, Ogbeide-Ihama said he had provided street lights and procured vehicles to empower his constituents, stressing that he was willing to extend such initiatives across the seven local government areas in Edo South.

Earlier, the Edo South senatorial district leader and former deputy governor of the state, Pius Odubu, said the election should be seen as a family affair. He noted that although several persons were seeking the ticket, only one would eventually emerge.

He appealed to Ogbeide-Ihama to conduct his campaign peacefully.