In the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP) primaries in Edo State, Monday Okpebholo emerged victorious with 12,433 votes, securing the APC's governorship ticket for the September 21, 2024 election. On the LP side, Olumide Akpata, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), won the primary with 316 votes.
Okpebholo, Akpata, and Atsu Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer, are the leading contenders in the upcoming election. The APC primary, overseen by Senator Bassey Otu, announced Okpebholo's victory, with Dennis Idahosa coming in second with 6,541 votes.
Akpata's victory in the LP primary came amidst some controversy, with aspirant Tom Iseghohi withdrawing from the race citing lack of transparency and monetization of the process. Despite this, Akpata pledged to carry everyone along and pay tribute to his mentor, the late Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.
Observers see Okpebholo's win as a setback for Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a key figure in Idahosa's camp. The LP primary, which also saw billionaire philanthropist Kenneth Imansuangbon and Prof Sunday Eromosele as contestants, ended with Akpata's emergence as the flag bearer.
