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2027: Ogbeide-Ihama Joins Edo South Senatorial Race, Says Upper Chamber Not For Neophytes(Photos)
A former House of Representatives member, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, on Wednesday joined the race for Edo South Senatorial seat on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ogbeide-Ihama, during his declaration at Ward II in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo, declared that his eight years of legislative experience makes him the strongest contender for the seat.
He told party supporters and stakeholders that the 2027 senatorial contest would require competence, capacity and proven grassroots appeal rather than mere political sentiments.
The former federal lawmaker said he was stepping into the race because Edo South needed tested leadership at a time when national politics demanded strong legislative representation.
“If you talk about experience, I am the most experienced among all of us. I have spent eight good years in the House of Representatives, in the National Assembly.
“The rules and the business of both chambers are the same. So, I’m the longest-serving member who has been in the National Assembly,” he said.
According to him, the senate is too important for the senatorial district to hand over to a political newcomer, insisting that legislative experience remained a major advantage in lawmaking and constituency development.
We cannot send a newcomer to that place. We cannot survive there.
“The politics there is different. Experience counts. There must be competence, there must be capacity, there must be ability to win the election,” he said.
Ogbeide-Ihama said that beyond experience, he had already shown his capacity to deliver projects and win elections under difficult circumstances.
“I have attracted federal presence to that constituency across board. The evidences are there.
This whole process is about winning elections. I have shown that I can win elections. I won even from opposition. Back to back, I won 12 wards over 12 wards,” he said.
The APC aspirant added that his strong connection with the grassroots made him a natural choice for the ticket, describing himself as both experienced and representative of the younger generation seeking leadership opportunities.
“I represent a generation that is yearning for leadership, and I believe that it is our time. I am the most experienced, but let me tell you, na me young pass because it is our time,” he said.
Responding to claims that he was an outsider in APC, Ogbeide-Ihama dismissed the insinuation, maintaining that he was a committed and recognised member of the party.
“I don’t know what stranger means. I’m a full-fledged APC member. When I joined APC, it was known to everybody. Before I joined APC, we were not winning. When I joined, we won,” he said.
On insinuations that external political forces were driving his ambition, he said support in politics could come from anywhere and should not be treated as a crime.
Is there anybody that contests election that does not go to the people? If help comes from anywhere, we take all the help.
My helper can be in the South, in the North, in America. We take all the help,” he said.
He urged APC members across Edo South to reject divisive politics and focus on presenting the best candidate for the general election.
The former lawmaker stressed that the senatorial seat belongs to all the seven local governments in the district.
One senator, seven local governments. I am not going to be senator for one local government. I will be senator for all the seven local governments,” he said.
Ogbeide-Ihama expressed confidence that APC would emerge victorious in the 2027 general elections if the party prioritised qualification and electability.
“This ticket of APC, God has restored it to us. We will take it and we will win this election.
“We will win for presidency, we will win for senate and we will win all our House of Representatives seats,” he said.
Two major gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, Mr Adebayo Adelabu and Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, have picked the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The duo picked the forms on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adelabu is the immediate past Minister of Power and hails from Ibadan.
Alli, on the other hand, currently represents Oyo South Senatorial District on the platform of the APC.
He is also an indigene of Ibadan, the state capital.
Recall that Adelabu’s Personal Assistant, Mr Ajiboye, picked up the form on behalf of his boss at the APC Secretariat in Abuja.
Alli, on his part, collected the form himself in Abuja.
Alli was accompanied by some members of the House of Representatives, among whom were Remi Oseni, Akeem Adeyemi, Olamiju Alao-Akala, and Akin Alabi.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has urged the government of South Africa to step up protection for Nigerians and other black immigrants following reports of renewed xenophobic violence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 29, NIDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa warned that the situation had worsened despite earlier diplomatic engagements between both countries.
According to the commission, recent reports suggest children of Nigerian descent are now afraid to attend school, while business owners are reluctant to open their shops for fear of looting, harassment and targeted attacks. Community leaders have also documented fresh incidents of violence and intimidation within the past 72 hours.
NIDCOM appealed to South African authorities to take “urgent and visible steps” to safeguard foreign nationals, citing obligations under international law and African Union protocols on free movement and human rights.
The commission rejected what it described as the profiling of Nigerians, stressing that crime should be treated as an individual matter. “Crime has no nationality,” the statement said, adding that offenders should be prosecuted under South African law rather than entire communities being stigmatised.
Among its demands, NIDCOM called for increased police patrols in areas where Nigerians live and work, swift arrests and prosecutions of perpetrators, and the creation of a joint Nigeria-South Africa community safety forum involving police, city officials and diaspora leaders.
The commission also urged South African authorities to issue clear public messages condemning xenophobia and stereotyping.
Nigerians living in South Africa were advised to remain law-abiding and avoid high-risk areas after dark. NIDCOM said it is in contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, the consulate in Johannesburg, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
While condemning the attacks, the commission praised the majority of South Africans who continue to live peacefully with other Africans, expressing confidence in the longstanding ties between both nations and pledging continued diplomatic engagement to protect Nigerians abroad.
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the dismissal and prosecution of officers involved in the fatal shooting of Mr. Mene Ogidi in Effurun, Delta State, following the tragic incident that occurred on April 26, 2026.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, directed the immediate withdrawal of all officers linked to the incident from the Delta State Command to Force Headquarters, Abuja, where they underwent accelerated disciplinary proceedings.
The statement revealed that the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC), after a thorough review, found that the principal officer, ASP Nuhu Usman, acted in gross violation of Force Order 237 and other established regulations guiding the use of firearms.
The committee described his actions as unlawful, unprofessional, and a serious betrayal of the oath sworn to protect lives and uphold the law.
Following the findings, the FDC recommended the immediate dismissal of ASP Nuhu Usman and other officers found culpable in the incident.
The Inspector-General of Police has since approved the recommendation and forwarded it to the Police Service Commission for ratification in line with due process.
The Force also confirmed that upon completion of the administrative procedures, the affected officers would be handed over to the appropriate judicial authorities for prosecution over their roles in the extrajudicial killing.
Reaffirming the Force’s stance, the IGP stated that the Nigeria Police Force maintains zero tolerance for extrajudicial actions and abuse of power, stressing that no officer has the right to take life outside the provisions of the law.
He emphasized that any officer found violating this principle would face the full weight of disciplinary and legal consequences.
The Inspector-General also extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, Mr. Mene Ogidi, assuring them that the matter would not be treated lightly and that justice would be served transparently to restore public confidence.
He urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding, while assuring citizens of the Force’s commitment to professionalism, discipline, and the protection of the rights and dignity of all Nigerians.
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