BY BEN OGBEMUDIA

The political atmosphere in Ovia (North-East and South-West) Federal Constituency of Edo State shifted on Monday, as stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) unanimously adopted Hon. Omosede Igbinedion as the party’s consensus candidate for the upcoming House of Representatives by-election.

The announcement was made by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa—himself a former occupant of the House of Representatives seat—during a well-attended meeting of party leaders and supporters in Benin City, the state capital.

Describing Omosede’s adoption as “a product of extensive consultation and unity of purpose among APC members in Ovia,” Idahosa emphasized that the party was determined to retain the seat in the by-election scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“This is not just about filling a vacant seat. It’s about giving the good people of Ovia quality, experienced, and people-oriented representation,” he said. “After wide consultations with stakeholders across the constituency and state party leadership, we agreed to present Hon. Omosede Igbinedion as our consensus candidate.”

Idahosa noted that Omosede’s legislative experience, grassroots appeal, and service record made her the best choice to fly the APC flag.

The Ovia Federal Constituency seat became vacant earlier this year following Idahosa’s resignation from the House of Representatives to accept his nomination as Deputy Governorship candidate for the APC in the September 2024 Edo Governorship election. His elevation left the seat open, prompting INEC to schedule a by-election.

INEC had in June announced that the by-election would hold on Saturday, August 17, 2025, in line with Sections 76(2) and 25(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, which require vacant legislative seats to be filled within a stipulated period.

In her acceptance remarks, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion expressed gratitude to party stakeholders for their trust and support.

“This is a call to service, and I assure you I will not take this trust for granted,” she said. “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.”

A lawyer and philanthropist, Hon. Igbinedion previously represented the constituency in the 8th Assembly (2015–2019) under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She defected to the APC in 2023, citing alignment with the party’s progressive vision and her renewed commitment to constituency development.

Monday’s adoption meeting was attended by top APC figures, including state and local party executives, youth and women leaders, and traditional rulers. Many praised the consensus approach as a strategy to foster party unity and avoid pre-election rancour.

Political observers see the by-election as a litmus test for the APC’s popularity in Edo State following its strong performance in the 2024 governorship election that brought Senator Monday Okpebholo and Hon. Idahosa to power.

With Hon. Omosede’s emergence, attention now turns to opposition parties as the campaign season officially begins. INEC has assured voters of a free, fair, and credible election, urging all political actors to play by the rules.