Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has attributed the victory of Edo State Governor-Elect, Monday Okpebholo, in the September 21, 2024, governorship election to his reserved approach.
According to Oshiomhole, Okpebholo’s lack of media presence worked in his favor during the electoral process in the South-South state.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, Oshiomhole downplayed the importance of television interviews, stating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had no obligation to force its candidate to participate in media engagements.
“Our strategy worked, which is why the people voted. Monday communicated with the Edo electorate, and they decided,” Oshiomhole stated.
The former APC National Chairman was responding to questions about why Okpebholo did not appear in media interviews, unlike his competitors, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.
When asked why Okpebholo remained absent from television debates, Oshiomhole remarked, “You are saying I was the face of the campaign, whatever that means. But what makes me the face? Maybe because I was speaking to the quality of Monday.”
He emphasized that Okpebholo’s reserved campaign style did not hinder him from reaching the electorate, adding that traditional media like radio played a more significant role in reaching voters than television.
“The mistake many TV hosts make is assuming that anyone who doesn’t appear before you is not communicating. The most potent means of communication is not television. Radio has more reach than television,” he explained.
Oshiomhole’s comments come in the wake of Okpebholo’s declaration as governor-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday evening. INEC announced that Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes, while Akpata trailed with 22,763 votes.
A key factor in Okpebholo’s victory was his influence in Edo Central, coupled with the support of Oshiomhole from Edo North and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa, a federal lawmaker. Okpebholo also benefited from the backing of Philip Shaibu, the estranged deputy governor of Edo State, who had fallen out with the outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki.
The APC’s triumph marks a significant shift in Edo State’s political landscape, with the party reclaiming power after losing the governorship to the PDP in 2020. That loss followed a high-profile defection by Obaseki, who switched to the PDP after an internal rift with Oshiomhole. Obaseki went on to win a second term after defeating APC’s candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Despite his role in securing the governorship in 2016, Oshiomhole fell out with Obaseki, leading to a bitter political feud. In the recent election, Obaseki had strongly campaigned for Ighodalo, while Oshiomhole was a prominent figure at Okpebholo’s rallies and media appearances, representing the APC candidate.
With Okpebholo’s victory, the APC is now poised to return to the Dennis Osadebey Government House in Edo State, with the governor-elect set to take office after Obaseki’s tenure concludes on November 12, 2024.
