As preparations ramp up for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the formation of a 197-man campaign council.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu.

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has been appointed as the chairman of the campaign council. He will be supported by Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda as co-chairman and former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole as deputy chairman.

The campaign council also includes prominent figures such as Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Assistant Secretary), Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, and several APC governors, including Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

Additionally, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, is part of the team. The APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, will compete against the PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party in the upcoming election.