Ex-Sterling Bank Chairman is Obaseki PDP faction’s governorship candidate

A former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Asue Ighodalo, has emerged as the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s faction’s governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Recall that the Edo State governorships election is scheduled for September 2024.

Ighodalo polled 577 of the 585 accredited votes, defeating 10 other aspirants to clinch the party’s ticket at the keenly contested primary which took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Earlier, the state’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, had emerged the candidate of another faction of the party.

Shaibu, however, polled one vote at the Obaseki’s faction election, while another top contender, Anselm Ojezua scored zero votes.

The immediate past House of Representatives member, representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama stepped down from the race, while his other counterpart, a former House of Representative member representing Ovia Federal constituency, Omosede Igbinedion also stepped down from the race, declaring her support for  Ighodalo.

Other aspirants including Felix Akhabue, Martin Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, Dr. Earl Onaiwu and Arthur Esene also polled zero votes.

The election also recorded six void votes.

Ighodalo was declared winner of the primary election by the Chairman of the Edo PDP Primary Electoral Committee and Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and the Co-Chairman and Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwhori.

Lawal said, “By the powers vested in me by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, pursuant to the Constitution of our great party, the PDP, as the Chief Returning Officer of the 2024 Edo PDP Primary Election, I hereby declare Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the just concluded primary election with a total vote of 577.

“Therefore, I hereby return the elected as the PDP candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.”

Ighodalo commended the delegates, leaders and members of the PDP for the confidence reposed in him, promising to, if elected the state’s next helmsman, work with all stakeholders to transform the fortunes of Edo people and lead the state on the path of prosperity and greatness.

He said, “I thank the good people of Edo State. Resilient people; brilliant, hard working, visionary, focused, and willing to move our state into prosperity.

“I am only a tool in this process and I promise you all that I will be a useful tool in this process. Edo State by God’s grace will move from where Governor Godwin Obaseki has carried us to, to the next level.”

He added, “I would like to thank Governor Obaseki for the wonderful work he has done in the last seven and a half years. I know that in a year or two people will keep talking about Obaseki. We all haven’t seen the value of the work he has done but he is like a builder who is building the foundation for a 100-storey building. I thank him and his wife for supporting him tremendously and giving him the strength to go through the vicissitudes of the last seven years. No man is perfect so we all will repair and work on each other’s mistakes.”

Reiterating the need for a united party to win the forthcoming guber elections in the state, Ighodalo said only with a formidable and united front that the PDP could excel and succeed in the mission of retaining its seat at Osadebe Avenue and consolidating on the impactful work the party has started in the State.

Earlier, Obaseki, while welcoming guests at the primary election, said, “If we in Edo do not begin to show the right leadership that will begin to reset Nigeria, God forbid, we may all be in trouble. PDP is the only party that has what it takes to rule this country. Again, we are showing the example in the way we are conducting our leadership selection process.”