Millions of voters will file out on Saturday, September 21st, 2024, to cast their ballots for candidates in the Edo State Governorship election.
The off-cycle election has 17 candidates vying for the exalted seat at the Dennis Osadebay House in Benin City, Edo State.
They will be battling to replace Governor Godwin Obaseki whose eight-year leadership ends in November.
Obaseki came into power in 2016 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) but due to internal squabbles dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he won a second term in office in 2020.
After months of intrigues and primaries, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cleared 17 parties for the polls, according to data on the umpire’s website.
The governorship election will be held in 4,519 polling units across the 18 local government areas of Edo State.
But the big question is: who will replace Obaseki as the leader of the South-South state?
Edo Governorship Election: Who are the Candidates?
Well, here is the profile of the candidates battling out for the number one seat in Edo State:
Okpebholo: A Lawmaker’s Shot At Guber Success
Senator Monday Okpebholo. X@SenOkpebholo
When it comes to politics in Edo State, Monday Okpebholo is not new to the scene. The senator who is representing Edo Central is the flagbearer of the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the race to replace Obaseki.
Okpebholo was affirmed as the party’s candidate for the election after a series of intrigues, accusations, and counter-accusations that trailed the party’s primary election. Three candidates including the senator had emerged from the primaries held in different places but party stakeholders affirmed Senator Okpebholo as its flagbearer for the September 21st poll.
In what many have described as a strategic move and to quell the internal tussles in the party, Okpebholo picked Dennis Idahosa – one of those who won the factional primaries – as his running mate.
In his campaign, the APC candidate promised to tackle insecurity, improve education and develop infrastructure among others. The APC chieftain is also hoping to leverage the APC leading at the national level to dislodge his opponents for the exalted seat.
However, critics and opposition have accused the APC candidate of avoiding media appearances and being unfit to rule the state.
Senator Okpebholo has a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan and is from Udomi in Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area (LGA).
Ighodalo’s ‘Path to Prosperity’
Asue Ighodalo
But for his governorship dreams to become reality, he must beat other strong contenders like Asue Ighodalo of the ruling PDP. Arguably one of the biggest names on the ballot for the exercise, Asue Ighodalo is from Okaigben, Ewohimi, in Esan South-East LGA which is in Edo Central.
A lawyer and a former economic adviser to Adams Oshiomhole (an ex-governor of Edo State), Ighodalo enjoys the support of incumbent Governor Obaseki. His campaign tagged “Pathway to Prosperity for All” promised prosperity for the people of Edo State.
He is also a member of Obaseki’s economic team. Ighodalo is the founding partner of a leading corporate and commercial law firm Banwo-and-Ighodalo. His running mate is another lawyer Osarodion Ogie. He studies law at the University of Ibadan and also has a master’s from the London School of Economics.
Obaseki’s backing of the PDP candidate has drawn eyebrows from opponents who claim the governor wants to run for a second term under Ighodalo.
Akpata’s Bid To Disrupt Status Quo
(FILES) Olumide Akpata
While APC and PDP have tasted power in Edo State, Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) fancies his chances of disrupting the status quo.
A former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the LP is banking on the party’s success in Edo State in the 2023 presidential election. The party garnered 331,163 votes in that exercise with Obi as its candidate.
In a bold move, Akpata resigned in 2023 as a senior partner with Nigerian law firm Templars to focus on his political ambition.
While the push for power shift meant the PDP and APC are fielding candidates from Edo Central (following claims of marginalisation of the zone), Akpata is from Edo South and has said his decision to vie for the seat is part of his contributions to “nation-building”.
But the human rights advocate has a somewhat tough terrain to navigate in his bid to become the governor of Edo State, the biggest being the long-standing zoning arrangement in the South-South state.
His manifesto tagged “My Pact with the People of Edo State” aims at repositioning Edo State’s economy and providing the needed infrastructure to drive growth across all sectors. It features eight key areas.
Akpata’s running mate is Yusuf Kadiri who is also a lawyer.
Other Contenders
Although the candidates of the LP, APC, and PDP are the major contenders in the Edo governorship election, there are others on the ballot. They include:
Uwaifo Osaro (Action Alliance; AA)
Aner Aliu (Social Democratic Party; SDP)
Azena Azemhe Friday (New Nigeria Peoples Party; NNPP)
Osifo Isiah (All Progressives Grand Alliance; APGA)
Ugiagbe Sylvester (All People Movement; APM)
Areleogbe Osalumese (All Peoples Party; APP)
Akhime Afere (Action Democratic Party; ADP)
Udoh David (African Action Congress; AAC)
Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena (Zenith Labour Party; ZLP)
Osirame Edeipo (Boot Party; BP)
Iyere Kennedy (Accord Party; AP)
Obazele Agbone (African Democratic Congress; ADC)
Key Ndidi (Peoples Redemption Party; PRP)
Okungbowa Ovbokhan (Young Progressive Party; YPP).
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