Intrigues As Race For Obaseki’s Successor Begins

The process to pick the candidates of the major parties in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State starts today with the election of ad-hoc delegates by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The PDP has as usual adopted the indirect option of choosing delegates to nominate its candidate for the Edo State governorship election in a congress to be held on February 22.

The All Progressives Congress, APC has on the other hand opted to carry out a direct primary in which every party member will be expected to vote to choose the candidate.

The third major political party in the state, Labour Party has to the shock of many of its supporters and democracy activists followed the PDP in opting for a delegate election to produce its governorship candidate.

The election is not due until September and the decision to choose the candidates in February falls in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act allowing considerable time for candidates to campaign.

The PDP’s resort to the indirect method to choose its candidate is one that has been particularly criticized because of its expensive and time-consuming nature. But it is one that is easier to manage for party bureaucrats and godfathers.

It starts with all party members, as expected today, going out to elect three ad-hoc delegates from each of the 191 wards in the state and a special delegate from each LGA. These delegates will be the ones to form the electoral college that will vote the candidate.

This process makes it so easy for the rich and the governor to intervene by buying up the delegates or intimidating them to tow the official line.

But it is not always so.

In Delta State in 2014 after the delegates had emerged a sort of strange influence came over Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who lost track of his political momentum. Uduaghan for some strange reason despite his political aides camping the delegates was unable to forge forward as he osciliated between his proclaimed choice, Mr Tony Obuh and the Urhobo agenda.

In his confusion, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa moved in and won over the majority of delegates beating the Urhobo candidate, Chief David Edevbie who incidentally Okowa had discussed with to be his campaign manager.

It is for that reason that Okowa despite all entreaties from Chief James Ibori refused to back Edevbie as his successor in 2023 because of the perceived treachery.

But Governor Godwin Obaseki, the outgoing governor of Edo State is not Uduaghan. While Uduaghan is likable to many, Obaseki by his actions and even his mien is kindly said not to be endearing.

So, going into the delegate election it was supposed that the mainstream of the party which had been aligned to the powerful national vice-chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih would easily prevail. Indications to that effect emerged after nearly all major figures in the party flocked to Orbih’s annual Christmas party last December.

Even Obaseki had to make an appearance after years of discord.

However, given that Obaseki and his preferred successor, Asue Ighodalo are about the most loaded with cash, sources in Edo State say that the politics of bread and butter may punctuate the emergence of the PDP candidate as may otherwise have been preferred by the majority of party delegates.

Your correspondent understands that the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr Osarodion Ogie who appears to have now abandoned his own aspirations has been greatly involved in mobilizing for the governor with regular meetings with PDP leaders.

But if there are enough men of conscience, the polity will be shocked as Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who appears to be the choice of Orbih’s disciples may throw a spanner into the works of the governor.

The APC has chosen the direct primaries to allow all party members to vote. It is an option that ordinarily should cheer up some of the aspirants like Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who have extensive political presence on ground.

The decision on a direct primary should have constrained the influence of Senator Adams Oshiomhole who controls the exco but who it is alleged, is against Ize-Iyamu, being supposedly in favour of Hon Dennis Idahosa.

But as we know, APC direct primaries are full of melodrama.

In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari was recorded with 14.8 million votes in the primary but in the General Election won with 15.2 million votes. In several other cases as in Lagos in 2015, the APC candidate won more votes in the primary than in the General Election.

That is perhaps the fear in the camp of Ize-Iyamu that results would be written down and submitted as Senator Smart Adeyemi said was done in Kogi State last year.

The option of Labour Party as a vehicle to check whatever malfeasances may erupt from the PDP and APC is, however, not cheery to many.

There is a fear that the leadership of the party has been compromised. The decision to sell the forms at N30m was the first indicator. The second was the decision to adopt the expensive Indirect Option to choose the candidate.

It has been repeatedly alleged that Governor Obaseki is looking toward Labour if his exertions are thwarted in the PDP. Speaking three days ago, Barrister Olumide Akpata strongly denied the claim that he is Obaseki’s joker in Labour Party, going far to say that anybody that has the governor’s support has a leprous smear.

But his words have not reassured many in the civil society space. Yesterday, the Edo State chapter of Labour and Civil Society Coalition, LASCO vowed to truncate the aspiration of Mr Akpata upon the unfounded claim of being Obaseki’s man in Labour.

Whatever, the game has begun in Edo and the heartbeat state will continue to pulsate for months ahead even after the delegates would have settled home and finished with the bread from this exercise.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG