The All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State chapter, has adopted Joe Ikpea and Omosede Igbinedion as it’s consensus candidates for the by-election.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had fixed August 16 to conduct the by-election.
Ikpea is set to contest for the Senate seat in Edo Central, while Igbinedion will tackle other political parties for the House of Representatives seat for Ovia Federal Constituency.
Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa confirmed Igbinedion’s candidacy during a meeting of party leaders and supporters in Benin.
He said her adoption as the consensus candidate was arrived at after extensive consultation and unity of purpose among APC family members in Ovia.
He said, “This is not just about filling a vacant seat. It is about giving the good people of Ovia quality, experience, and people-oriented representation.
“After wide consultations with stakeholders across the constituency and the state leadership of our great party, we have agreed to present Hon. Omosede Igbinedion as our consensus candidate for the by-election.”
Reacting, Igbinedion thanked the party leadership and stakeholders for the confidence reposed in her.
She said: “This is a call to service, and I assure you all that I will not take this trust for granted. Ovia deserves strong, responsive, and effective representation, and I am fully committed to building on the gains of my predecessors, especially my brother and friend, the deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa.”
For Ikpea, the Vice Chairman of Edo Central Senatorial District, Patrick Esangbedo, formally informed the State Working Committee during a meeting on Saturday.
He stated that the APC caucus in the zone had unanimously adopted Ikpea as the sole candidate for the senatorial by-election.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Senate seat was vacated by the incumbent governor, Monday Okpebholo, after he won the September 21, 2024 governorship election, while the the Ovia Federal Constituency seat was vacated by the deputy governor, Dennis Idahosa, after the electoral victory.