The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2024 Edo State Governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, has come a long way since he was first announced as the PDP flag bearer ahead of the elections in September, but he has gone through many trials and windstorms.
The storm started when the party held the Primaries in February 2024, with top figures in the PDP attending, including the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki; the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori; and the Governor of Zamfara State and chief returning officer of the primaries, Dauda Lawal.
These primaries were conducted with all PDP governorship aspirants in mind, including Ighodalo, Anselm Ojezua, Arthur Esele, Osaro Onaiwu, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, Felix Akhabue, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, and the former deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu.
To say Ighodalo won the primaries by a landslide would be an understatement, as he raked in 577 of the votes, leaving one other candidate, Shaibu, with one vote, and the rest with zero votes.
Governor Lawal declared Ighodalo as the winner, naming him the PDP flagbearer.
However, earlier that day, a parallel primary had been held at the residence of Philip Shaibu, where Bartholomew Moses declared the former deputy governor winner with 301 votes.
Shaibu took to court, contesting the validity of the primaries won by Ighodalo in a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho.
Shaibu lost that case, with Justice Omotosho declaring Ighodalo as the rightful candidate, but Shaibu appealed the case.
Igohdalo, for his part, has gathered a lot of goodwill, and rightly so, especially considering he is the preferred candidate of the sitting governor, Obaseki. Obaseki, who has been the governor since 2016, will come to the end of his tenure this year, after doing two full terms.
Former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president and ex-governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole had taken some shots at Ighodalo, and almost immediately came under fire from a pressure group, Edo People for Good Governance, berating Oshiomhole for the attacks and urging him to focus on more pertinent issues in the state, like education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development.
Ighodalo has garnered goodwill, not just from his party, but from the opposition party as well, which is indicative of his ability to unite Edo State as one, breaking through the division of political parties.
All Progressives Party (APC) Chieftain, Prince Emmanuel Odigie, known to many as ‘Oga Gaddafi’, has said on Arise TV, that Ighodalo is the best man for the job.
“Ighodalo has a clear vision for the Edo people, he understands the terrain, and he has been playing an advisory role since the days of Oshiomole’s first year in office, for 16 years. The man understands the workings [of Edo State]. He grew his law firm to be the biggest in Africa with over 100 lawyers and several partners. A man so trusted by the international community, that he’s the chairman of so many multinational companies. Raised by an accountant. A man with no blemish, a man who loves his people.”
This is high praise, especially coming from someone affiliated with the opposition party.
Shaibu’s appeal failed too, with the Court of Appeal on July 22 announcing Ighodalo as the rightful candidate of the PDP ahead of the September 21 Guber elections.
The Appeal Court’s ruling confirms the former Sterling Bank CEO as the flagbearer for the PDP, meaning that Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie will be on the PDP ballot come September when the Edo State Governorship elections will be held.
