Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has dismissed claims that political godfathers handpicked him to be remote-controlled as the leader of the South-South state.
According to Okpebholo, divine intervention, rather than political manipulation, played a key role in his rise to office.
“Can you even point out one godfather who was pushing me?” he asked during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
“God was using people to help me, to support me, to get to where I am today,” he asserted.
The governor also acknowledged Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s support, noting that, as the ruling party’s leader in the South-South, Akpabio’s involvement was driven by a desire to reposition Edo for progress.
“God was at work. Edo people spoke. We were hungry for a change,” Okpebholo said. “Even in the next 20 years, I will win. Do you know when I won my Senate seat, there was a sitting senator? That time everything was working against us, yet we won.”
He further stated that there is little opposition to his administration, claiming that even some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretly voted for him while still aligned with former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Oshiomhole Not a Dictator
Okpebholo also rejected allegations that Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole is a dictator, as some critics have suggested. Instead, he said the former governor allows him to govern independently.
“Oshiomhole is giving me a free hand,” Okpebholo said. “Whenever I want to talk to him, he tells me: ‘My son, I know how you feel, just do it your way.’ But I will say: ‘Sir, I won’t do it my way, please advise me.’ And he advises me, and most of the advice turns out to be positive.”
He emphasised the importance of teamwork in governance, stating, “You cannot be an island; you have to carry everybody along.”
Victory in Edo’s 2024 Election
Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, emerged victorious in the September 21, 2024 Edo governorship election, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the PDP and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP), among others. He was sworn in as governor on November 12, 2024, succeeding Godwin Obaseki, who completed an eight-year tenure.
His journey to the Dennis Osadebe Government House was not without challenges. As a former Edo Central senator, Okpebholo leveraged his influence in his senatorial district and aligned with Oshiomhole to defeat Ighodalo, who had been Obaseki’s preferred successor.
His victory was also attributed to his partnership with Dennis Idahosa, his then-running mate and former federal lawmaker, as well as his alliance with Philip Shaibu, Obaseki’s estranged former deputy.
APC’s Return to Power in Edo
The APC lost control of Edo State in 2020 when Obaseki defected to the PDP following a feud with Oshiomhole. After being denied the APC ticket, Obaseki won re-election under the PDP banner by defeating APC candidate Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
However, in 2024, the political tide shifted. Obaseki campaigned vigorously for Ighodalo, while Oshiomhole was a key figure in Okpebholo’s campaign, attending rallies and media interviews on his behalf.
With Okpebholo now in office, the APC has reclaimed its position in Edo, marking a significant political shift in the state.