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Enioluwa Adeniyi
Guest
Just days before the crucial Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21, Tom Iseghhi-Okojie, the candidate of the Action Alliance, has announced his withdrawal from the race and endorsed Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a press conference held on Sunday, Iseghhi-Okojie stated that his decision to step down was driven by his belief that true leadership involves not only standing alone but also knowing when to unite for the collective benefit of the people.
He emphasized that his endorsement of Okpebholo was made with the aim of fostering unity and ensuring effective governance for Edo State.
Okojie who was joined in the briefing by her running mate, Deaconess Mabel Onaiwu, and Acting chairman of APC, Jarrett Tenebe, said, “I address you today with a deep sense of responsibility, hope, and determination for our beloved Edo State.
“Today, I am making a pivotal decision that I believe is in the best interest of our state. I have chosen to step down from the governorship race and collaborate with the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Monday Okpebholo.
“Edo cannot afford another term of mismanagement, economic hardship, and insecurity so I decided to collapse my structure and join forces with the APC to change the narrative.
“The PDP has had its opportunity, but unfortunately, they have not succeeded in bringing the progress our state needs and after careful reflection, I realised that aligning with APC, under Senator Okpehbolo’s leadership, is the best path forward for the state.
“Senator Monday Okpebholo may not be known for grand oratory, but leadership is about action, not rhetoric. History has shown us that great leaders—like Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln—were often criticized for their speaking styles, but their strength and vision led their nations through difficult times.”
He added, “Senator Okpehbolo embodies this kind of leadership. He may not dazzle crowds with flashy speeches, but he is strategic, thoughtful, and deeply connected to his people. Behind the scenes, he has proven to me that he is a leader who listens, gathers the right people, and makes tough decisions for the good of Edo State. He is not driven by ego or power but by a sincere desire to improve the lives of Edo people.
“The power of collaboration by stepping down and joining forces with APC, I am not abandoning my promise to the people. On the contrary, I am fulfilling it in the most effective way possible. Action Alliance brings with it a grassroots structure of 65,000 members, with the capacity to mobilize at least 500,000 votes.
“This collaboration ensures that we can win this election decisively and bring the real change that Edo so desperately needs. My role will be to support Okpehbolo by managing media relations, countering unfair attacks, and ensuring that he can engage directly with the people, something he is fantastic at.”
In his remarks, Tenebe noted that after eight years of PDP non-performance, the party opted for a possible collaboration with other parties to form a government of unity, adding that the AA candidate’s joining forces with the APC was one of those arrangements.
He added that governance is about empathy, noting that anyone without empathy cannot be an instrument of development.
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