Senator Matthew Urhoghide, the Director General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Organisation, stated that the positive performances of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the party’s governorship candidate, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, in their local areas will greatly boost the party’s chances of winning the state’s governorship election on September 21.
Speaking to reporters in Benin City, Senator Matthew Urhoghide responded to criticisms from the opposition that Senator Monday Okpebholo was incapable and lacked skills. Urhoghide defended Okpebholo by pointing out his successful track record of assembling a capable team during the senatorial election, which demonstrates his high level of administrative competence.
He said, “It is very uncomplimentary for anybody to say that our candidate is incompetent. I think it is too early in the day for anybody to say who is incompetent or not. Even if anybody is a dunce, the ability to put eggheads together means that person has administrative competence.
“It is a good thing that our candidate had contested election in Edo Central senatorial district and had secured the mandate of the people and won. So, as a candidate, I think it is a lot easier in addition to what he has done and it is quite auspicious the time he has indicated interest to contest for the governorship.
“For Edo North, the APC as a party has been able to secure the mandate of the people through Senator Adams Oshiomhole. So, in a way if you look at Edo South complimenting Edo Central and North, the party enjoys popularity for the governorship.
“His running mate is the incumbent member of the House of Representatives from Ovia and he is doing his second term. Our candidate’s vis-a-vis the party are enjoying popularity in their different constituencies so the party is prepared more than any other party in the contest.
“It has always been a recurring thing people talk about. What is the ‘federal might’ going to do with the election? The former President Muhammadu Buhari is an APC man, I went to the Senate as a PDP, the governor in my state was APC, but the federal might did not stop me from going to the Senate.
He added, “When I finished my tenure in 2019, I was asking for renewal, the governor then was Adams Oshiomhole. APC put up a formidable candidate in the person of Samson Osagie against me and they lost and I won. The eight years I was in the Senate, Buhari was there. We are going to do this election on the basis of merit and we are going to see that our candidates win based on what they have done.”
 Campaign Organisation, stated that the positive performances of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the party's governorship candidate, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, in their local areas will greatly boost the party's chances of winning the state's governorship election on September 21.){kind=link}