By Our Correspondent

Winner of Thursday’s re-run All Progressives Congress governorship primary in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has called on aspirants and members of the party to set aside their differences and unite ahead of the governorship election in September.

Okpebholo made the appeal in his acceptance speech issued in Abuja on Saturday.

The senator emerged the party’s candidate when he polled 12,433 votes to defeat 11 other aspirants after the previous poll was declared inconclusive.

The final outcome of the exercise was announced officially in Benin by the new Chairman of the election committee and Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, following the collation of sults from the 18 Local Government Areas.

In his acceptance speech, Okpebholo expressed conviction that with his emergence, APC will reclaim Edo State.

He also paid special tributes to President Bola Tinubu, National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; former Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and the people for standing on the side of equity and justice.

The candidate stated that despite the initial differences, Oshiomhole remains his leader and believes he will play a critical role in securing victory for APC in Edo State.

He said: “Primaries have been won and lost. It is time to begin the real process of saving Edo State from the hands of clueless leaders who have failed to meet the expectations of the people. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s role in ensuring a level-playing field is something I treasure. I want to also appreciate the national chairman of the APC and other members of the National Working Committee for standing with the people of Edo State.

“My colleagues in the Senate, especially the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, other aspirants who stepped down for me, APC leaders in Edo State, Edo people who joined in the clamour for a free and fair process, I appreciate you all. To my leader, Adams Oshiomhole, I appreciate your guidance over the years. Despite the differences, you remain my leader and I know that you’ll lead the way that will earn us victory in September.

“Today, the APC family in Edo State has made a bold statement by choosing God over mammon, development over inanities and love over hate. It has been clear to every discerning mind that Edo State has gone on the wrong path of development with the elitist style of governance with little regard to reality. I am humbly requesting all my brothers and sisters who contested the primaries with me, to put the contest behind and join me in the onerous task of making Edo State heart beat again with development across the broad spectrum of human endeavour.

 

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