As more aspirants drop out of the race for the ruling People’s Democratic Party’s ticket for the 2024 governorship election ticket, a picture of who the major contenders will be is beginning to emerge.
This is just as the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state has intensified the search for a consensus candidate ahead of party primaries that are expected to hold by February 24, 2024 according to the election schedule announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In a bid to ensure that Edo APC, is united to take over the reign of power from the Godwin Obaseki’s PDP led administration in Edo state, APC leaders entered into a marathon meeting in Abuja with all the governorship aspirants of the party in attendance aimed at producing a consensus candidate for the party.
The party had last week suspended the sale of governorship nomination and expression of interest forms and summoned a meeting of all aspirants.
It was learnt that the issue of zoning and consensus candidate tops the agenda of the Abuja meeting.
Some of the prominent aspirants gunning for the APC ticket includes, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Hon Dennis Idahosa, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imansen, Prince Clem Agba and Prof Oserheimen Osunbor.
Others are Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Victor Eboigbe, Gideon Obhakhan and Col. David Imuse among others.
A prominent Edo APC Leader last night confided in LEADERSHIP Sunday that the meeting among aspirants and other party leaders and stakeholders is to prevail on some of the aspirants to step down for a particular candidate from Edo South Senatorial District, a move it was learnt other aspirants from Edo Central and North senatorial district unanimously resist.
A source with first hand knowledge of the horse trading said, “What the leadership of the party is trying to do is to avoid implosion in the party after a flag bearer emerges because the party is determined to make sure that the APC takes over Osadebey Avenue, the seat of power in the state, forthcoming the governorship election.
“You know the party parades strong and credible aspirants from the three senatorial zones and we are also not unmindful of the sentiment and agitation among the people Edo Central senatorial district to produce Obaseki’s successor. So we are going to look at all these and come out with the best possible way to foster unity in the APC.
“Yes, our most respected national leader of the party, Senator Adams Oshiomhole is expected to give direction and as loyal party members, we will align with him in order to ensure APC takes over power in Edo state. What is more important for us is to send the PDP packing.
LEADERSHIP had previously reported that the PDP caucus of Edo Central Senatorial District had endorsed Dr. Asue Ighodalo, as its sole aspirant for the election for the September 21, 2024 election.
This followed the official presentation of the Edo Central PDP special committee’s report, chairmed by Chief Tom Ikimi. The committee said the adoption of Ighodalo was without prejudice to the right of any other aspirant to pursue his/her aspiration for the election.
LEADERSHIP Sunday however learnt that a number of aspirants have already dropped out of the race as Ighodalo is reported to be the preferred candidate of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
But Obaseki and his preferred candidate maybe headed towards a collision course with the deputy governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu.
Shaibu has remained defiant and insists on contesting for the PDP ticket.
Recently, Shaibu even accused the governor of trying to play the role of godfather in Edo politic. He said in statement signed on his behalf that
“We all agreed as a group to fight godfathers – even the governor pledged to fight godfatherism in the state, and said he should be dealt with if he turns around and attempts to play the role of a godfather.
“Because I hate oppression, I staked my relationship (with Oshiomhole). That relationship, I lost about 20% of my political capital in Edo North to support Godwin Obaseki and in supporting him, even as deputy governor who does not have any line financially, through my friends and others, I supported the second term bid of the governor with my structure, all my vehicles and finances including how we got the ticket of PDP, I contributed financially.”
He emphasised that their shared focus remains serving the people and dismantling the influence of “godfathers” in Edo politics.
Recent development especially in the ruling PDP in state point clearly to Ighodalo as the preferred candidate for the party while aspirants in the APC and LP will be keenly contested even as informed sources are of the view that key leaders in the APC and LP are keeping close to their chest the party’s flag bearer which will be made know few days to the primaries.
Asue Ighodalo, (PDP)
Ighodalo, is a successful commercial and corporate lawyer who came into the Edo governorship race with intimidating resume especially from the corporate business world. Besides his achievements in business he enjoys the full backing of the incumbent governor Godwin Obaseki.
If the recent endorsements and other aspirants stepping down is anything to go by, Ighodalo can be said to be positioned to pick the party’s ticket with ease against his arch opponent, Philip Shaibu. Other candidates however remain in the race.
The Candidates:
Philip Shaibu, (PDP)
These are obviously not the best of times for Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu. His campaign ahead of the primaries suffered a major setback last week, when some of the PDP aspirants collapsed their structure in support of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s preferred candidate, Aseu Ighodalo.
As if that was not enough, some leaders of the party led by former Chief of Staff to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mike Oghiadohme in Edo North openly led other notable leaders of the party to adopt Ighodalo as their consensus candidate for the party’s ticket, a development political watchers in state described as a major setback against aspiration of Shaibu.
However, Shaibu had described the Asue endorsement as nullity and of no political effect on his quest to trounce Obaseki preferred candidate at the primaries and eventually win the Edo 2024 governorship poll later in the year. Shaibu believes that his connection with the people and experience will work in his favour. No wonder he ascribed the slogan of the “100% homeboy’ a new political lexicon that has sparked up debate of who is a ‘homeboy.
Shaibu believes that his legislative, executive experience and having worked closely with the governor in addition to the advantage of age is also considered a factor that may work in his favour.
Anselm Ojezua: (PDP)
Despite suffocating pressure on Hon Anselm Ojezua, a leading governorship aspirant on the platform of PDP. Ojezua last week purchased the express of interest and nomination forms. He is confident of winning the PDP governorship ticket.
He is perceived to be a unifier because he doesn’t belong to any of the factions in the PDP and it is believed that his candidacy will unite and foster unity in the party. Some of his critics are of the view that Ojezua has not stood an election may be a minus for him.
Sen. Monday Okpebholo, ‘aka’ Akpakomiza, (APC)
Okpebholo is the senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, a political protégé of former BOT chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP late Chief Tony Anenih.
The APC National Assembly lawmaker is the first and only politician to demystified the PDP in Edo Central district when he won his election into the Senate against the incumbent Sen. Clifford Ordia in the senate.
It was gathered that the unassuming politician is said to be favoured by the state and national leadership of the party to emerge the party’s candidate in the forthcoming primaries.
Leadership gathered that his colleague senators are working assiduously to see that one of their own pick the party’s ticket and eventually wins the governorship election.
A source in the know said, “I can authoritatively tell you that members of the national assembly are determined to see one of their own becomes the governor of Edo state. Over 40 senators are expected to join his declaration in Benin in solidarity and they are not leaving anything to chance”.
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, (APC)
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is from Edo South senatorial district of Edo State and was the candidate of the APC in 2020. He is believed to be one of the aspirants with political structure with huge followers across the three senatorial districts of the state. An experienced politician formed the grace group that later metamorphosed into what is now APC. Ize-Iyamu, no doubt is one of the aspirants to watch out for in the battle for the APC governorship.
Hon Dennis Idahosa, (APC)
Dennis Idahosa is one of the hardworking Edo federal lawmakers in Edo South representing Ovia federal Constituency. The grass root politician is said to be at home with his people owning to his robust representation in the last four year.
The second term lawmaker became more popular in Edo South politics when he defeated the daughter of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Omosede Igbinedion in 2019 and 2023. The youthful parliamentarian believed it is time for a young and vibrant candidate to occupy the number seat of power in the state.
Prof Oserhiemen Osunbor, (APC)
Prof Oserheimen Osunbor was governor of the state for 18 months before his administration was truncated by the courts in 2008 to give way for Oshiomhole. His legislative and executive experience is one factor said to be in his favour.
The Professor of law is from Iruekpen, Esan West LGA in Edo Central. His 18 months aborted reign was the only time Edo Central occupied the Government House in the history of Edo.
Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi, (APC)
The former minister of State for Work is one of the aspirants eyeing to occupy Osadebey’s avenue, the seat of power. In 2016 and 2019, the former Group Executive Director of Exploration and Production contested for the APC governorship ticket. He is said to have lost out to alleged manipulation and influence of the power that be then.
Ogiemwonyi popularly called ‘Mr Integrity’ parades enviable public and academic records and may string surprise at the APC governorship primaries. He is from Orhionwon local government area of Edo South Senatorial district of Edo state. His financial war-chest is said to be a factor too.
Hon Clem Agba, (APC)
Some of the aspirants in the opposition APC include Prince Clem Agba who is from Uzanu in Etsako East LGA, Edo North Senatorial District. He was commissioner during the eight years of Governor Oshiomhole and was later appointed as Minister of State for Budget and National Planning in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Kassim Afegbua, (APC)
Prince Kassim Afegbua is from Okpella in Etsako East LGA in Edo North. He was Chief Press Secretary, and later Commissioner under the Oshiomhole administration. The outspoken politician is relying on his popularity among the stakeholders in the state to clinch the party ticket.
Kenneth Imansuagbon, (LP)
It is no longer news to say Barrister Kenneth Imansuagbon is a household name when it comes to the politics of Edo state. His popularity soared high when the educationist began to cater for the needs of the poor masses of Edo state in the last 20 years by doling thousands of bags of rice.
He is said to be the most experienced, popular aspirant with ‘street credibility’ seeking the Labour party governorship ticket.
Political analysts have posited that for the Labour party to win the 2024 governorship election, it needs to field a popular and acceptable candidate that can bring in the votes for the LP.
Imansuangbon is confident that if given the party’s ticket LP ticket, APC and PDP can kiss goodbye to the governorship seat come September 2024 election.
He is said to have built some sort of political capital cutting across divides may be an advantage for the Ewohimi born politician.
Dorry Okojie, (LP)
Okojie , an Estate mogul and serial entrepreneur is also an aspirant to watch out for as far as the LP ticket is concerned. New in elective politics, the young politician is said to have achieved some milestones in his consultation to clinch the Labour Party’s ticket. His political campaign is centred on his plans to change the political governance of the state for the better.
Olumide Akpata, (LP)
The former Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA)President , Olumide Akpata, is another colourful politician that joined the Edo governorship race under the Labour Party platform. Since he declared to wrestle for the number seat of power in the state, the corporate commercial lawyer has exact his weight to take over the structure of the LP in Edo state. His recent donation of SUV cars to the party and huge financial contribution has rattled other aspirants in the race for the LP ticket.
However, one of his albatross is the alleged subterranean backing from governor Godwin Obaseki. The aspirant at different fora has debunked the allegations and noted that he is a man of his own and set to pick the LP ticket despite all the campaign of calumny.