Gov Otu Of Cross River Heads APC National Campaign Council

…As Philip Shaibu dumps PDP for APC

By Simeon OSAJIE

The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Bassey Otu today, Saturday 20th July was sworn in as Chairman, National Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Edo governorship election.

Others members of the campaign council are member of the APC governor’s forum in the country.

The9jaTREND reports that the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, who urged members of the council to swing into action to ensure that all wards and units in Edo State come out to campaign for APC opined that the APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Hon. Dennis Idahosa had already developed a blueprint with which they would develop the state.

“They are not coming with MoU but blueprint so that Edo can be connected to the government at the centre level,” he added.

Going further, the national chairman of APC assured the party that President Bola Amend Tinubu, would be on ground to formally flag off the campaign in Edo State.

Meanwhile, the embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu and some members of the Legacy Group of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) formally defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Other notable members of the group who also defected included Nosa Adams, Martin Osakue, Prince Austin Eweka, Frank Okiye and Felix Akhabue.

The National Secretary of the party, Mr. Tajudeen Ajibola Bashiru who received decampees, said the quality of the  defectors reassures that APC would emerged victorious during the 21st September gubernatorial election.

In his speech, Senator Monday Okpebholo APC Governorship candidate of the party, who said Edo State had never been divided like it had now become, castigated Governor Godwin Obaseki for raising the state debt from about ₦43 billion when he took over to over ₦500 billion assured Edo people that APC government is coming to restore infrastructure, education and security to the state.

In his speech, the Acting State Chairman of APC, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, urged the national chairman of the party to join them to rescue the state from the grip of the PDP.

While speaking, the senator representing Edo North and former governor of Edo, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, said the gathering represented the very essence of the broom, a reunion of the people who were deceived in their former party.

He noted that the party’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo has a enormous task ahead of him as governor of Edo come 21st September.

He asked the people of Edo to make a assessment of the years the APC rule and that of PDP in the state and see the difference.

“Edo people have the chance to sit back and ask themselves the differences in the years APC rule the state and that of the PDP.

“Governance is about having human empathy. Those who do not know your house cannot repair the leakages, only those who know the leakages can help fix them.

“If they can cheat themselves and go to court, we will not allow them to cheat (at the polls), and it will be one-man-one-vote,” he said.

Reacting on the killing of Inspector Akor Onu, Senator Okpebholo’s orderly, Oshiomhole sworn to ensure that the National Assembly investigate the circumstances behind his death.

Oshiomhole urged Okpebholo to disband the State Security Network if he becomes the state Governor.

The ex Edo State govenror also charged the State Commissioner of Police, Folusho Adegboye to defend the integrity of the police uniform.

“The days of tyranny are over, they shall know no peace because they have murdered sleep,” he added.