By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – FOLLOWING the purported report of a committee set up by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said to have been headed by the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, that pruned down the numbers of the APC aspirants from 29 to 6, an Edo based Social Political group, United For Greater Edo, (UFGE) has said that Hon Dennis Idahosa is the surest bet to deliver victory for the party if he emerges the party’s candidate.

They said his emergence among six aspirants from the pack of other notable contestants was a clear pointer to his popularity and capability to bring in the votes for the APC.

The panel was said to have short listed, Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo, (Edo Central), retired permanent secretary in the Federal Civil Service, and Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, (Edo North), former Chairman of the APC, retired Col David Imuse, (Edo Central) and former minister of Budget and Planning, Prince Clem Agba, (Edo North) as the preferred aspirants.

The group while commending the Julius Ihonvbere’s led screening panel for what it described as a thorough exercise noted that the APC must ensure that the party is united before, during and after the primaries for the bigger battle ahead of rescuing the state from the suffocating grip of the Governor Godwin Obaseki led administration.

They noted that the aspiration of Idahosa is divine and will bring about a positive change in the governance of the state adding that his political trajectory points to the fact that the experienced and popular federal lawmaker has written his name in gold as far as the politics of Edo state is concerned.

They also appealed to the leadership and members of the party to rally round the aspiration of Idahosa at the forthcoming primaries.

Convener, United For Greater Edo, (UFGE), Abel Aigbodion, in a statement made available to newsmen said Idahosa has demonstrated capacity, political sagacity and experience to bring in the votes for the APC.

According to the convener “We are very much impressed with what he has been able to achieve in Ovia within a limited period and urged him to continue in that direction.

“While Ovia people remain the beneficiaries of Idahosa’s magic wand, we however want the generality of people of the state to be part of Idahosa School of politics of good governance.

“What we are saying in essence is that we are supporting him and also calling on the people to do the same so that he can replicate the same thing he has done in Ovia to the state.

“Idahosa is not only young and hardworking, he has shown that what truly matters to him is the happiness of his people and that is exactly the kind of governor we should desire come 2024.”