For the All Progressives Congress (APC), next year’s governorship election in Edo State is crucial. The chapter, led by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who currently represents Edo North at the Upper Chmaber of the National Assembly, is working towards winning the election to avenge the defeat it suffered in the hands of Governor Godwin Obaseki and his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) three years ago. CHINAKA OKORO reports
Like other political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is strategizing to dislodge the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s governorship election in Edo State. The election is scheduled to be held on September 21, 2024, to fill the vacuum that would be created when Governor Godwin Obaseki’s tenure elapses. Edo State is one of the nine states that observe off-circle elections. The others are Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Osun and Ondo.
Until the 2020 governorship election, Edo State was under the firm grip of the APC. Senator Adams Oshiomhole who governed the state between November 12, 2008 and November 12, 2016, handed over to Obaseki who secured his first term mandate on the platform of the APC. Oshiomhole, who enjoyed wide support across the state, utilised that opportunity to install the then Chairman of his Economic Team (Obaseki) as his successor; against the popular wish of the people because Obaseki was relatively unknown.
However, rather than Obaseki’s emergence to be a blessing and continuity for the APC and Oshiomhole, he became an albatross to the APC hierarchy, particularly Oshiomhole, who backed him as governor. A year after Obaseki assumed office, a crisis ensued between him and his “godfather” Oshiomhole.
Trouble began when Obaseki banned APC leaders from entering the Government House shortly after they supported his emergence. Some of the APC youth leaders such as Osakpanwa Eriyo were thrown into prison, to the chagrin of Oshiomhole, who tried to call Obaseki to order to no avail.
However, on June 19 2020, Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu dumped the APC for the PDP. That was how the APC lost Edo to the PDP.
So, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the date for next year’s election recently, for the APC, it was another opportunity to strategise on how to take back the state which many believed was taken from the PDP by Oshiomhole through hard work.
On the part of the PDP and Obaseki, they would want to tell the world that the PDP has come to stay. But they should expect the political ruggedness of Oshiomhole and his APC because Obaseki whom he enthroned seven years ago ended up betraying him.
No wonder many aspirants have been expressing their interest in vying for the Edo governorship position on the platform of the APC. The situation now is a huge challenge for Oshiomhole because many of his supporters and the APC hierarchy in Abuja are apprehensive that the mistake he made by bringing Obaseki as governor seven years ago may repeat itself.
The first challenge before Oshiomhole will be where to cede the governorship ticket. Is it to Edo South where the incumbent Obaseki hails from or Edo Central, an area where many believe has been marginalised in terms of the governorship position?
Rumours making the rounds have it that Obaseki has anointed his friend, Asuen Ighodalo from Edo Central as his successor; after getting rid of the ambition of his embattled deputy, Philip Shaibu, who is from Edo North.
Many are indeed canvasing for the Esan Agenda (Edo Central), but Oshiomhole’s strategy will be to win and nothing more. Looking at the aspirants that have indicated their interest in facing the PDP come September 21, 2024, it is obvious that the battle for the APC ticket is between Edo Central and Edo South where Obaseki hails from.
Some of the aspirants that have indicated interest to run for the position on the platform of the APC include former deputy governor, Chief Lucky Imasuen (Edo South), a former member of the House of Representatives, EJ Agbonayinma (Edo South), Mallam Gani Audu (Edo North), Prince Clement Agba (Edo North), Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd) (Edo Central), Victor Eboigbe (Edo Central), Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor (Edo Central), Mr Gideon Obhakhan (Edo Central), Saturday Uwuilekhue (Edo South), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu (Edo South), Col. David Imuse (rtd) (Edo Central), Denis Idahosa and many others.
It is also rumoured that former Minister of State for Works, Chris Ogienwonyi (Edo South) will also join the race soon. The immediate past Director of Finance in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) is yet to jump into the race but there are indications that the APC hierarchy may draft him into the race because he has remained consistently loyal to the party. As it is now, Oshiomhole ceded the ministerial position to Edo North; in the person of Alhaji Abubakar Momoh. With the influence of Oshiomhole in Edo North, the APC is intact in that area.
Edo Central indeed, believes that it is its turn after Senator Osarhiemien Osunbor tasted it between May 29, 2007, and November 11, 2008, before the Appeal Court declared Oshiomhole the authentic winner of the governorship election.
But observers believe the best bet for the APC is to cede its ticket to Edo South, which has the biggest voting population. Such political pundits are also of the view that the APC must watch the activities of the Labour Party (LP), which has a strong support base in Edo South. Their thinking is that if the LP decides to give its ticket to a popular Benin man (Edo South) and the APC opts for Edo Central, the contest may become dicey for the APC; particularly now that Obaseki appears to be considering Edo Central.
All Oshiomhole needs to do is to pick a Benin man as the APC candidate and a running mate should be picked from Edo Central since the minister is from Edo North. This political calculation will guarantee victory for the APC.
Examining the candidates from Edo South, if the party should pick Gen. Airhiavbere (rtd) as its candidate, he is one man who has all it takes to sack the PDP and Obaseki from Osadebey Avenue, the seat of power in Edo State.
The former commander of the Army Finance Corps and Accounts and the immediate past Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the NDDC was the PDP governorship candidate who challenged Oshiomhole in the July 14, 2012 governorship election. His emergence as the PDP candidate then unsettled the then Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) due to his influence in the military.
However, Oshiomhole, who was basking on his popularity, based on his developmental strides as governor then, won the election.
In 2015, Gen. Airhiavbere, with his supporters, dumped the PDP for the APC. He again vied for the ticket of the party in 2016. But when Oshiomhole anointed Obaseki as his successor, Airhiavbere rallied other aspirants behind Obaseki.
He ran again in 2020, but Oshiomhole preferred Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Again Gen. Airhiavbere worked for the party. Unfortunately, Ize Iyamu was outfoxed by Obaseki in that election.
Those familiar with Edo State politics over the years believe that Gen. Airhiavbere is the kind of man Oshiomhole needs to sack Obaseki and the PDP in the coming election. He is a man that has a regimented background. So, he will be loyal to the party and its leaders at various levels.
His relationship with the palace of the revered Oba of Benin is also an advantage to the APC. Judging from his antecedent, he is a progressive-minded politician who has the interest of his people at heart.
These attributes played out when Governor Obaseki sacked 14 members of the House of Assembly. General Airhiavbere came to their rescue and housed them in his Abuja hotel. During that turbulent period, those G14, as they were fondly called, echoed their regret of choosing Pastor Ize-Iyamu as their governorship candidate.
In terms of management, as the immediate past Executive Director of Finance and Administration of the NDDC, it is said that Gen. Airhiavbere exhibited his high capacity and intellectual prowess in assisting the management to redirect the commission positively.
He was said to have introduced policies that will assist the current management to achieve its goals of ensuring that the commission delivers on its promises to the people of the Niger Delta.
So, as the APC primary beckons sometime in February 2024, all eyes will be on Oshiomhole to get the right man who will help the party dislodge Obaseki and his PDP associates in the election scheduled to be held on September 21
