Vice President Kashim Shettima led a high-profile delegation of All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to Benin, the Edo State capital, on Saturday for the final campaign efforts ahead of the governorship election scheduled for September 21. Joining Shettima were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, several state governors, and other prominent party members.
In his speech, Shettima endorsed the APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, calling him a capable leader with a track record of excellence. He emphasized that Okpebholo was the right candidate to propel Edo State forward, urging unity and peace to ensure progress. Shettima noted that the increase in state allocations should provide the incoming administration with sufficient resources to implement developmental projects.
APC National Chairman Ganduje also addressed the rally, calling on voters to turn out in large numbers to support the APC candidate. He expressed confidence in the party’s ability to bring about change in Edo, stating that the state had become a symbol of both literary and economic renewal.
Okpebholo, upon receiving the APC flag, promised to prioritize economic revival and pledged to restore hope to Edo residents by voting out the current administration. He highlighted key areas such as education, security, healthcare, infrastructure, and agriculture as part of his agenda. He also committed to employing 10,000 teachers, with 5,000 in the first 100 days of his administration, and to declaring a state of emergency on the state’s infrastructure, particularly the roads.
Other prominent APC members, including former governor Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Bassey Ottu of Cross River, also called on the electorate to support Okpebholo in the upcoming election.