By our correspondent in Benin.
Dr. Ernest Umakhihe.
Feelers from within the ranks of the APC in Edo State indicate that a consensus is building massively for the choice of Dr. Ernest Umakhihe as the party’s candidate for Edo Guber race.
Across a broad spectrum of the APC, there is a strong urge to field a candidate that can dislodge the PDP from the Government House by September this year and Dr. Umakhihe appears their best bet.
Our correspondent learnt that what the retired Federal Perm Sec has going for him is his pedigree as a chartered accountant, bureaucrat and technocrat, as well as his clean slate in terms of personal transparency and diligence.
Investigation revealed that even party stalwarts believe that Dr. Umakhihe, indeed, wields the leverage to pull the rug off the feet of the PDP which is battling to stay back in power.
Umakhihe’s supporters easily point to his successes in attracting federal presence across the state as a federal permanent secretary who traversed several ministries and parastatal agencies in the last few years.
They also view him as a true “home boy” who keeps touch with the grassroots and as one man who can garner the votes of the electorate in the nooks and crannies of the state.
Dr. Umakhihe retired from the Federal Civil Service early this year after 35 years of meritorious service to the nation.
An ICAN-chartered accountant, he holds a B. Sc in Accounting, Masters in Business Administration and a Ph.d in Security & Strategic Studies.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
