Benin City — THE flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State last Thursday was nearly marred as the party was unexpectedly denied access to the Nigeria Police Barracks in Ogida, Benin City a venue that had already been booked and paid for.
The initial invitation sent out by the party indicated Ogida Barrack while a subsequent one indicated Eribo estate along Textile Mill Road.
It was gathered that the venue was reportedly handed over to the state-sponsored Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV), a paramilitary group for unspecified activity casting doubt on the rally's prospects.
Some of the leaders of the party were said to have given up on the holding of the rally when a former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon Crosby Eribo who was our of the country came to the rescue by making the open area in the estate available for the party to hold its rally.
"That is how you people who are committed to the cause of our party. Not everybody will do what Eribo did especially in an unfriendly environment the state government has created.' a leader or the party told Vanguard.
The rally had party heavyweights, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Deputy Governors Lucky Imasuen and Pius Odubu, and serving Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu, Director General of the APC Campaign Council, Sen Matter Uroghide.
Addressing the enthusiastic crowd, Senator Urhoghide passionately called on voters in the Edo South Senatorial District to throw their weight behind the APC, promising that Okpebholo would deliver on his campaign promises.
Odubu on his part lambasted the outgoing PDP government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki, labeling it as "wicked" and urging the electorate to reject the PDP in the upcoming September 21st election.
He also took the opportunity to remind voters of the 14 elected lawmakers, including Eribo, who were not inaugurated in 2019 under Obaseki's administration.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the urgent need for change and warning against allowing Governor Obaseki to handpick a successor.
