Edo poll: APC’s chances of victory growing stronger, says ex-speaker

A former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye, has stated that the chances of the All Progressives Congress winning the September 21 governorship election are improving daily.

In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, Okiye, a chieftain of the APC, claimed that Esanland, the region where both the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, and the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate hail from, is favourable to the APC.

He said, “The chances of the APC winning this governorship election are getting brighter. I know that the PDP and its candidate are surprised by the turn of events because, before we started campaigning, they believed they had it all sewn up.

“Many people are now defecting from the PDP to the APC because they know that Ighodalo is a protégé of Governor Godwin Obaseki and may not perform any better if elected as governor.

“Ighodalo seems to be criticising the governor of the Aghenebode campaign by claiming he will build schools, improve healthcare, provide electricity, and eradicate poverty.

“He heads the laboratory known as Alaghodaro, which is generating economic policies for the government.

“Under normal circumstances, a sitting government would campaign based on the projects it has accomplished, which they have not.

“What they focus on is the candidate of another party, who they say does not speak Queen’s English, rather than addressing substantive issues. Who says speaking Queen’s English makes one a better administrator?

“Our candidate is a self-made man who developed himself in the private sector, so the language he uses to communicate is irrelevant. We have moved beyond that and are looking ahead.

“We are considering a candidate’s passion for development, not someone who will exploit the people. They claim the school of fisheries will commence. How do they plan to achieve this? From which budget? The current government’s tenure is just a little over two months.

“The battleground is Esan, and we are performing well in that area, which is also my home,” he added.