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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.