APC Lawmakers Donate N1 Million to Support Edo State Governor-Elect Monday Okpebholo’s Election
There is rising solidarity within the House of Representatives, as members elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have donated N1 million each from their September allowances to support the successful election of Edo State Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo. Okpebholo, who contested and won the September 21 gubernatorial election on the platform of the ruling party, secured 291,667 votes, defeating his major opponents, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 247,274 votes and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) who garnered 22,763 votes.
TACO spokesperson disclosed that the decision to deduct the funds was made as part of a collective effort to support the governor-elect, considering his commitment to strengthening the party’s dominance in Edo State. However, some lawmakers initially expressed concerns about not being consulted on the decision before the deductions were made.
It was reported that N1.4 million was deducted from the allowances of each APC member of the House of Representatives in September, with N1 million allocated for Okpebholo’s election campaign, N200,000 directed towards supporting victims of the Borno floods, and another N200,000 contributed to the family of former Speaker Ghali Umar Na’Abba, who passed away in December 2023.
Although a few members were initially unaware of the deductions, they have since applauded the move as a necessary contribution to the party’s greater good. The support for Okpebholo is seen as vital for consolidating the APC’s influence in the state, with members ultimately appreciating the gesture, recognizing it as a show of solidarity between the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Reflecting on the outcome, a senior member of the House remarked, “While we weren’t all informed at first, it’s clear that this decision strengthens our party and supports one of our own. We believe it’s a worthy sacrifice for the growth and unity of the APC.”
