Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election, asserted that the people of Edo State, not external influences, will determine their next governor.
Ighodalo, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, emphasized that the choice of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s successor lies solely with the Edo electorate.
“The decision as to who becomes the next governor of Edo State is the decision of the Edo State people; it’s not the decision of anybody else, whether you’ve been governor or you’re minister,” Ighodalo stated firmly.
This statement comes in response to recent comments by Nyesom Wike, former Rivers State governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Last Friday, Wike declared he would not support Ighodalo, who is Obaseki’s preferred candidate.
Addressing Wike’s stance, Ighodalo clarified, “It’s not correct that Governor Wike said he wasn’t going to support us, that’s not correct but events may have overtaken his decision at that point and he’s free to change his mind.”
The PDP candidate recounted his previous conversation with Wike, saying, “When he and I spoke, we spoke on issues around governance, around Nigeria issues, around how we can create a better country, we spoke about Edo State and at the end of the day we ended the conversations at a point where he said he will mind his business and Edo State is not part of his business.”
Ighodalo maintained his resolve, stating, “It’s only Edo State citizens and people that reside in Edo State who carry PVCs in Edo State that take that decision with the with the support of God Almighty and that’s the way I see it. I fear no man I only fear God.”
The political climate in Edo State has been tense, with 95 cases of violence, including 35 incidents of electoral violence, recorded since January. Notably, the PDP declined to sign a peace pact endorsed by 16 other parties participating in the election.
Analysts view the upcoming poll as a three-way contest between PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).
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Ighodalo, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), has secured Governor Obaseki’s endorsement, sidelining Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu. Meanwhile, Shaibu and former governor Adams Oshiomhole have pledged support for Okpebholo.
The election will see over 2.6 million registered voters from 18 local government areas deciding the next leader of the South-South state.
Edo is one of eight states in Nigeria where governorship elections are held off-season due to past litigations and court judgments.
