EDO 2024

PARTIES/ASPIRANT KICKS AS PRIMARY ELECTIONS GET NEAR

By On'omo Ojomoh


As the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election is around the corner the three major political parties and their aspirant’s jostles in readiness for party primary elections scheduled for February.
The Edo State ruling party (PDP) National Working Committee has fixed its primary election for February 22nd 2024 and pegs it's nomination form at #21Million and a 50 percent discount offered to youths aged
25 and 30 years.
According to schedule of activities and a timetable released earlier in November and signed by its National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature, the PDP said aspirants who completed and submitted their expression of interest forms are expected to purchase nomination forms between January 19-25, while January 27 is the deadline for the submission of completed nomination forms.
The primary election holds February 22 while all appeals on the governorship primary will be heard on February 24.
However, the former chairman of Sterling Bank PLC, Dr.Asue Ighodalo, has won the party's bet to fly its flag as he formally declares his intentions on Wednesday.
Dr Asue Ighodalo whose political profile has risen tremendously as fellow aspirants in his favored Edo Central Senatorial District have dropped their aspiration and declared their support for him which automatically made him the People's Democratic party (PDP) consensus aspirant.
The former chairman of Alaghodaro Economic summit, will go to primaries with Engr Omoregie Ogbeide-IIhama, a former member of the House of Representatives who two days before Ighodalo declares his intentions to run for the 2024 governorship election in Edo State. Also in the race is the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
The opposition All Progressives Congress
(APC), party leadership special committee headed by House of Representatives Majority Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, pruned down the number of governorship aspirants in the party from twenty nine to six.
The committee therefore disclosed that six aspirants scaled through the first hurdle and were cleared to commence their campaign and partake in the February 17, 2024 primary election.
The committee affirmed that the six, are Prince Clem Agba (Etsako East Local Government Area), Dr.Ernest Afolabi Umankhihe (Owen East Local Government Area), Mr. Lucky Imasuen (Ovia North East Local Government Area) Mr. Denis Idahosa (Ovia South West Local Government Area), Senator Monday Okpebholo (Esan Central Local Government Area) and David Imuse (Esan West Local Government Area).
Earlier, the APC working committee ruled out the possibility of zoning of the governorship slot and also said it had adopted the direct mode of primary for picking its candidate for the election. And as well maintained that it would attach a letter of undertaking to nomination forms which aspirants are expected to sign their indication that whatever the outcome of the primary election, they won't go to court.
Report of the committee was dismissed by a two time Governorship candidate now aspirant on the All Progressive Congress platform, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, he pointed out that the party's NWC has given clear directives that all aspirants for the governorship race are free to purchase nomination forms.
"I want to assure you that I am in the race and by next week by grace of God I will collect the form. Any Edo person is worthy of the ticket and I'm not a stranger. I want to assure you that your support will not be in vain and there's nothing to worry about “Ize-Iyamu told a mammoth crowd of Party Leaders and supporters at the airport in Benin City the Edo State Capital.