As the dust settles over the outcome of governorship primaries and the poll in Edo State, IDAHOSA MOSES takes a look at the trajectories of the leading candidates and other issues.
The electorate in Edo State are expected, on September 21, to elect a new governor that will pilot the affairs of the state for another four years. In preparation for poll, the political parties have concluded their primaries and winners have emerged. The coast is gradually becoming clearer on the real contenders and pretenders on who becomes the successor of Governor Godwin Obaseki as the countdown to the end of his two terms of four years each approaches. No, doubt, the forthcoming election is going to be keenly contested, especially among candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP).
While the PDP and the APC have nominated their candidates from Edo Central Senatorial District, a zone that has been agitating that it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state, the Labour Party, on the other hand picked its candidate from Edo South Senatorial zone, a district adjudged to be the largest in terms of population, landmarks and voting strength.
Paradoxically, while many observers opine that the election will be a three man-horse race, others are of the view that the contest is really between candidate of the PDP, Dr. Asue Ighodalo and his APC counterpart, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
However, other contestants are a former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) president, Mr Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP); Pastor Azena Azemhe of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Dr. Isaiah Osifo of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Patience Ndidi Key of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Kennedy Iyere of Accord Party (AP), Bishop Akhalomhe of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Ambassador (Dr) Amos Osalumese Areloegbe of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
Asue Ighodalo
Asue Ighodalo is an indigene of Okaigben-Ewohimi in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State. He is the chairman of the yearly Alaghodaloro Summit and erudite lawyer cum financial expert. According to him, he was part of the Adams Oshiomhole’s administration and still serving in the current administration in the state. He is a consummate lawyer, successful business person and a great leader. He is a founding partner of Banwo & Ighodalo, a leading Nigerian corporate and commercial law firm. His core areas of practice are Corporate Finance, Project Finance, Securities and Capital Markets, Energy & Natural Resources, and Mergers & Acquisitions.
Without underrating other candidates in the election, Ighodalo is one of the strong contenders for the seat of power at Osadebe avenue. His popularity, particularly amongst his kinsmen as well as the political dexterity and wide acceptance of his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, the Secretary to the state government, has put him in good stead as one of the favorites for the position. Ogie, also is a major factor in Ikpoba-Okha, Oredo and Egor Local Government Areas in Edo South. No, doubt, with his political dexterity and large followers, Ogie is got to be key in the forthcoming election.
Another factor that may work for him is that of incumbency. It is no longer secret that the outgoing governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki is solidly supporting Ighodalo to succeed him. The governor will want to go extra mile to ensuring he plant a successor.
However, the crisis between the governor’s camp of the PDP and Legacy Coalition group as well as the rift between Obaseki and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, will, to some extent, affect the PDP chances in the election, if not addressed properly.
Asue is expected to garner more votes in Edo Central and South Senatorial Districts. But in Edo North, he is going to find it real difficult to get overwhelming votes owing to Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s political control of the zone.
With the coalition of Oshiomhole, Chief Dan Orbih, M. Pascal Ugbome and Phillip Shaibu, which is likely to happen, Edo North votes might be going to the candidate of the opposition APC. But in all, Asue Ighodalo is one of the two candidates likely to win the election.
Monday Okpepbholo
This is another heavyweight in the election. Senator Monday Okpepbholo is a household name in Edo Central and a political godson of one of the personalities not only in Esan land but also in the country, the late Chief Tony Anenih. Okpepbholo’ s relationship with the political sage, Anenih, will help him to get good numbers of votes in the zone.
According to other pundits, another factor that may work for the APC candidate is Oshiomhole influence in Edo North, coupled with the fear that Shaibu’s disenchantment with the PDP, Edo North could sway the votes.
There are permutations that the role of Abuja cannot be discountenanced in the coming poll. The view is that the power of the federal government might play a role in the election, as being alluded to by APC supporters.
One of the issues that will determine who wins the forthcoming election in Edo is who will be able to garner more votes in Edo South Senatorial zone. This is so because, Edo South has the largest voting population in Edo State.
This is the area where the member representing Ovia federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Dennis Idahosa comes handy. Though young, but might pull a surprise in the zone owing to his grassroots appeal.
Most youths in the state are now singing “youth O’ clock’, meaning, they are supporting a youth for the position of a governor or deputy governor for the state. This is where Idahosa may have an edge, especially, having dominated Ovia federal constituency over the years.
Olumide Akpata
Barrister Akpata, though, highly prepared for the election may be fighting from the rear owing to his lack of political experience and party strength in Edo State. This is because, the Peter Obi bandwagon effect that swept the Edo South Senatorial and House of Representatives seats for the Labour Party may likely not repeat itself this time due to the absence of Obi in the ballot.
Another factor that may work against his aspiration is that the outgoing governor of the state is from the same senatorial district with Akpata and may not be fair enough for the next governor to emerge from that same zone. His low level popularity especially among the people in Edo Central and North Senatorial Districts is also likely to affect his chances in the election.
Azena Azemhe
He is likely to pose little or no threat to Ighodalo and Okpepbholo as he is relatively unknown in the political space .He might be one of the participants in the election and nothing more. Even in Edo North, where hails from, his people will opt for Oshiomhole’s candidate.
Isaiah Osifo
The candidate of APGA has little or no chance to win the election.
Patience Key Ndidi
This is another interested participant. Her chances of winning the election are very slim and her party has a few number of followers in Edo.
The other candidates are Kennedy Iyerey (AP); Bishop Akhalomhe (ZLP) and Ambassador Amos Osalumese Areloegbe of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
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