Group routs for ex-Federal Perm.Sec as APC candidate in Edo Guber race.

By correspondent in Benin.

The APC in Edo State has been advised to get it right by picking Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, a retired Federal permanent secretary, as its Gubernatorial candidate for the September election.
A group, ‘Seasoned Edo Professionals’ gave the advice in Benin City today in a statement jointly signed by Barr. Dickson Abumere and Dr. Olu Oronsaye.

According to them, nominating Dr. Umakhihe will be choosing a gubernatorial candidate that will be acceptable to the generality of Edo people.
The group asserted that for APC to return to Government House on Dennis Osadebe Avenue, the party needed to field a candidate that could clearly and comfortably defeat the candidate of the ruling PDP in the State.
It described Dr. Umakhihe as the best governance expert and the most suitable amongst all the 29 aspirants in the APC.
The group reminded APC that a number of its aspirants were in the race ‘to be settled’ with appointments as they had nothing to offer the people of Edo State in this age.
It added that Dr. Umakhihe came from Owan Constituency, an area with a large followership of APC, but had been politically marginalized in recent democratic governance.
“Giving the ticket to Dr. Umakhihe, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAN), would be a mark of appreciation of their support for the party,” the group said.
They appealed to the APC to consider the overall interest of Edo State in picking their candidate.
Their choice – Dr. Umakhihe, graduated in Accounting from the University of Benin; holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Security and Strategic Studies.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.