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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, a group on the platform of the Obidient Movement has pledged its support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo,
The group, made up of members from the Edo South Senatorial District, on Monday, declared support for the APC candidate because of his close ties with the people.
The Obidient Movement, a youth movement which became famous in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, coordinated and propagated the activities of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, for the election.
After the election, the party, under the leadership of Julius Abure, created the Obidient Directorate to cater for the yearnings of members, but it was renamed after Obi’s rebuttal.
Obi had claimed that the Obidient Movement did not belong to any political party and should not be named as a directorate of any party.
Speaking during a meeting with Okpebholo, the Coordinator General of the Obidient Movement for APC, Ikhuenbor Igbinevbo, described the members of the movement as lovers of good governance, fairness and accountability.
“We supported Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election because we felt it was the turn of the Igbo.
“Right now in Edo, it is the turn of Esan and we need the most qualified to work for everybody, and not a stranger,” he said.
Responding, Okpebholo lauded members of the group for the support and pledged to repay the confidence reposed in him if voted to power.
He promised to surpass the achievements of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the first year of his administration.
“If they have done well, I would not have contested. I urged you to punish them with your votes because if you leave it for them, our unborn children will suffer,” he added.
However, the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party has condemned the support for the APC candidate, saying it was absurd for people who called themselves members of the Obidient Movement to support candidates of other parties.
The LP Publicity Secretary in the state, Sam Uruopa, in a ststement said: “It is absurd to hear that Obidient Movement is supporting Okpebholo just the way some also said they were Obidient Movement for Asue Ighodalo.
“The Obidient Movement is synonymous with the Labour Party and integral members of the party
“They have forgotten so soon how the party was denied the use of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium before the presidential election. So, how can these people now declare support for Okpebholo or Ighodalo?
“They have run out of ideas and do not know what they are doing at this point in time. They cannot be Obidient Movement and work against the party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata.”