A former member of the House of Representatives, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, said there was nothing wrong with seeking political support from Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State.
DAILY POST reports that Ogbeide-Ihama, an aspirant for the Edo South Senatorial District, stated this on Saturday, May 2, 2026, while addressing APC leaders and chieftains in the South Senatorial District during his formal declaration to contest for the Senate in the 2027 general election.
Ogbeide-Ihama, who represented Oredo Federal Constituency in the 8th and 9th National Assembly, noted that alliances are part of the political process.
The APC senatorial hopeful, who recently resigned as Executive Director, Corporate Services of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), argued that politicians often receive backing across regions, adding that such support should not be criticised.
“I heard from some quarters that I went to meet the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for help in order to get the party’s ticket.
“If it is true that I met Wike for support, there is nothing wrong in it. Everyone needs support. If such an action can guarantee me the party ticket, so be it.
“If such is true, there is nothing bad in doing so because everyone needs help. If meeting Wike can guarantee me the ticket, it is fine by me.
“But instead of castigating Wike, we should commend and praise him for helping a Bini person achieve his political ambition. He is sponsoring and supporting a Bini person and not a Yoruba, Igbo, or Delta person for the position of Senate. We are all Bini.
“As Wike is supporting me, I also heard that some aspirants have gone to seek the support of general overseers of churches somewhere in Nigeria,” he said.
He narrated how an aspirant sought his assistance to link him or her to a chieftain of the PDP in the Southeast for political support, but he referred the person to Matthew Urhoghide, the former senator for Edo South, who eventually linked the person to the politician.
He said that, at the end of the day, the person got the ticket and won the election, noting that if an Edo politician could support someone in the Southeast, there was nothing stopping Nyesom Wike from supporting him.
He, however, alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in Edo State destroyed his campaign billboards during his previous re-election bid while in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, the destruction of his campaign billboards at the time did not stop his victory at the polls.
“When I contested under the Peoples Democratic Party, my campaign billboards were pulled down several times, yet I still won the election.
“Now that I am in the APC, the election will be easier because I am among you,” he added.
Ogbeide-Ihama urged party leaders to ensure that the ticket is given to the most qualified aspirant, noting that the Senate requires experience rather than experimentation or newcomers.
While acknowledging that other aspirants are qualified, he opined that his experience in the House of Representatives gives him an edge over others.
The former lawmaker expressed confidence that his chances of securing the party’s ticket and subsequently winning the forthcoming senatorial election would be much easier now that he has joined the APC.
He highlighted some of his achievements in office to include the provision of streetlights and empowerment of constituents, promising to expand such efforts across the seven local government areas in Edo South Senatorial District if elected.
Earlier, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Pius Odubu, described the contest as a “family affair” and urged aspirants to conduct their campaigns peacefully.
