Just 36 hours before the Edo State governorship election, the All Peoples Party (APP) candidate, Ambassador Osalumese Areloegbe, on Thursday morning, merged his campaign structure with that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie Esq.
During a press briefing at the PDP secretariat in Benin City, Areloegbe explained that his decision to back Ighodalo stemmed from his belief that the PDP candidate possesses the qualities needed to lead Edo State to greater heights.
Read Also: Ighodalo Speaks On Wike, Reveals Who Will Determine Outcome Of Edo Governorship Election
According to him, “I urged all my followers and supporters to disregard any information that I have aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“I am supporting Asue Ighodalo because he is competent, not that I am not competent but I believe Asue is on the forefront. That is my reason for supporting his candidacy.
“My party is aware because they have been having a series of negotiations for us to align with the APC, and I told them categorically that I am supporting PDP. My eighteen local government followers are in full support of my decision, I mean 100 per cent supporting the PDP candidate, Barr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Barr. Osarodion Ogie in this election.
“My choice for Asue Ighodalo is because, apart from myself, I see him as the next better candidate that I can support and I can put my weight on because he has the capacity, mentally, physically and otherwise to pilot the affairs of Edo State to greater heights.
“The national secretariat of my party, APP – they are in Abuja and I am in the state, and know much more of what is happening in Edo State. They are not here and don’t know what is going on here in Edo. And I am in a position to tell them what will be better for the Edo people.
“There is a parable that says, ‘You cannot shave a man’s head when he is not present’. I am here in Edo State and I know who to support and why I am supporting him. The national leadership might have taken a different tone, but this is what I and my followers have chosen.
“We had a series of other politicians who had made such decisions before. That is why I agreed with the support of my supporters to collapse my structure for the governorship candidate of the PDP Barr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Barr. Osarodion Ogie.”