Edo APC demands $1 million from Arise News for Okpebholo’s interview

By Kunle Sanni

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council has reportedly demanded a $1 million fee from Arise News before their Edo State governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, agrees to a live interview.

In a statement released on Monday by the party’s New Media Campaign, the council clarified that Okpebholo is selective about his media engagements, rather than avoiding interviews entirely. This clarification came in response to multiple interview requests from various media outlets, including Arise News, whose anchor, Rufai Oseni, voiced concerns about Okpebholo’s reluctance to participate in interviews.

The PDP had also criticized the APC and its candidate, claiming that their lack of media engagement reflects a lack of substance in their campaign.

Since securing the APC nomination for the upcoming September election, Okpebholo has yet to grant any media interviews, raising speculation and concern within the party about the effectiveness of their campaign strategy.

The APC campaign council expressed discontent with Arise News’ interview request, accusing the station of bias and questioning its professionalism. Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah, Director of the APC’s New Media Directorate, stated that Okpebholo “has no obligation to grant an interview to a platform that has already shown its bias.”

The council further dismissed the station’s claim that its invitation to Okpebholo was being “politicized,” describing it as “a diversion from the real issue” of “impartiality and professional ethics.”

“It is therefore not surprising that Senator Okpebholo would choose to avoid an interview that seems to have been set up as a trap rather than an opportunity for genuine discourse,” the statement read.

The party added, “If Arise TV is so eager to have Senator Okpebholo on their platform, perhaps they should consider compensating him with a sum of $1 million. Only then might he entertain the notion of subjecting himself to what we can only describe as an act of media bullying. The integrity and principles of our candidate are not for sale, but such an offer might at least demonstrate a seriousness on their part that has thus far been sorely lacking.”