Asue Ighodalo has clinched the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest the Edo State governorship election slated for September 2024.
The renowned businessman defeated nine other aspirants, including the incumbent Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, in a keenly contested primary election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Thursday, February 22.
The Chairman of the Edo PDP Primary Electoral Committee and Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State announced that Ighodalo polled 577 votes out of the 1,024 accredited delegates, while Shaibu got only one vote.
Lawal declared Ighodalo as the winner and the flag-bearer of the PDP for the forthcoming election, and congratulated him on behalf of the party.
“Therefore, I hereby return him elected as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming election in Edo State. My brother, congratulations,” Lawal said, as he handed over the certificate of return to Ighodalo.
Ighodalo, who was accompanied by his wife Ifenyinwa Ighodalo, expressed his gratitude to the delegates, the party leaders, and the people of Edo State for their support and trust.
“I am actually, totally humbled,” Ighodalo said in his acceptance speech. “I thank the good people of Edo State. In the last four months, I have got to meet them more,” he added.
He also commended the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki for laying a good foundation for the development of the state and promised to build on his achievements if elected as the governor.
“I am only a tool in this process and I promise you all I will be a good tool. By the grace of God, Edo State will move from where Governor Obaseki stopped,” he said.
Ighodalo, who is a lawyer by profession and the founder of Banwo & Ighodalo, a leading corporate law firm in Nigeria, joined the governorship race in January 2024, after he resigned as the chairman of Sterling Bank Plc.Â
He is expected to face a tough challenge from the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has yet to conduct its primary election.
The APC is currently divided into two factions, one loyal to the former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, and the other to the former National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun.
