In their determination to derail the Edo Agenda for a Governor of Esan extraction in 2024 being championed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, some aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State have decided to join forces together.
In a meeting held in the Abuja residence of the South South Zonal Chairman of the PDP on Thursday, the aspirants undertook to collapse their ambition and present a common front against the perceived favourite of the Governor, Barrister Asue Ighodalo.
Aspirants who attended the meeting included Comrade Philip Shuaibu, Rt. Hon. Ogbeide Ihama and Hon. Felix Akhabue (Joefel).
In the meeting also were Chief Dan Orbih, Chief Benjamin Ceaser, the State Treasurer, Destiny Oreye, the State Youth leader, Barr Nosa Adams, Hon. Johnson Agbolagba, Mrs Lucy Omagbon, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye, Hon. Jude Imague and Hon. Zuberious Edeoghon.
They all agreed that Asue Ighodalo will win the primary if they all go into the field with him. The raising profile and acceptance of Ighodalo’s aspiration, especially among the leaders of the party and youth populace in Edo State, was a major source of worry to them all.
Chief Dan Orbih, Comrade Philip Shuaibu, Ogbeide Ihama and Johnson Agbolagba, voiced their opposition to the clamour for the governorship position to be zoned to Edo Central.
It was, therefore, agreed that they should all collapse their ambition and support Comrade Philip Shuaibu for Governor while Rt. Hon. Ogbeide Ihama will be his deputy. Hon. Felix Akhabue was nominated as the Secretary to the State Government designate. This was agreed to by all those present in the meeting.
They agreed that Chief Dan Orbih should convince other aspirants who were not in the meeting to key into the arrangement. How this will play out and be acceptable to aspirants like Senator Clifford Ordia, Barr Anslem Ojiezua, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun, Amb. Martins and Hon. John Yakubu is yet to be known.
