A body, Esan Alliance Movement, in Edo State has said that it has conducted a poll, which has shown that the member representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is the favourite to emerge as the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the party’s primary election in the state on the ground of his growing influence and popularity
The EAM, which made this disclosure following the poll conducted among all the governorship aspirants in the state and made the result available to newsmen Thursday, showed the Edo Central APC senator towered high above other aspirants.
Some of the contenders for the APC governorship ticket are Prince Clem Agba, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Hon. Festus Ebea, Dr David Imuse, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor and Prince Kassim Afegbua, among others
The group report conducted by a team of data analysts also took into cognisance, popularity and financial capability of aspirants, experience, acceptability, contribution to the party and issues of zoning.
The statement signed by the coordinators, Samson Okoduwa and Imade Osagie, said: “Our projection ahead of the Edo 2024 governorship primaries, the APC aspirant, Monday Okpebholo, is expected to win the party primaries and eventually fly the party’s flag.
“The poll, which also took into cognisance the strong agitation from the people of Edo central senatorial district to produce Obaseki’s successor, also pointed to Okpebholo, while Hon. Festus Ebea and Col. David Imuse came second and third respectively.
“The poll, which was conducted using a combination of phone surveys, questionnaires and influencers, also looked at the spread of aspirants in winning the governorship election if given the party’s ticket.
“We also identify that youths are more disposed to see a younger candidate emerge governor in the 2024 governorship race in Edo State.
“Conclusively, Okpebholo community service and contribution in strengthening the APC party in a zone considered to be a no-go area for the APC when others had lost hope in the APC was a strong favouring factor.”
