Political parties in Edo State have inaugurated their campaign councils ahead of the September 21, 2024, governorship election. Although none of the parties has officially launched its campaign with the usual pageantry used to flag off campaign season in Nigeria, candidates from the various parties are already crisscrossing the 18 LGAs and presenting their programmes to prospective voters.
Seventeen political parties have registered with INEC for the election, but analysts believe only three will have significant impact: the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Asue Ighodalo as its candidate, the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Senator Monday Okpebholo and the Labour Party (LP) with Barrister Olumide Akpata.
Interestingly, these three major political parties are plagued with crises, which, according to pundits, may affect their chances in the election.
Although the three major parties face issues, the PDP’s problems are the most pronounced and deep-rooted, beginning after winning the 2020 governorship election. The unresolved crisis led to the factionalisation of the party in the state, with Governor Godwin Obaseki leading one faction christened “New PDP” and the party’s National Vice Chairman (South South), Chief Dan Orbih, leading the “Old PDP”.
The crisis continued unabated through the party’s primary election won by Governor Obaseki’s anointed candidate, Asue Ighodalo, and has since seen the party embroiled in a turmoil. As the crisis festers, the PDP faces resignations and anti-party activities as it prepares for the governorship election. Many party chieftains have resigned and joined opposition parties while others who stayed back are working against the party. Notable resignations include members from Edo South and Edo Central senatorial districts.
Chieftains who resigned include Charles Idahosa from Uwhunwode LGA, Frank Abass Momoh Jega from Etsako East LGA; Nosa Adams from Egor LGA; Prince Abubakar Felix Isuku from Owan East LGA; Dr Flex Akhabue from Esan West LGA; former Speaker, Frank Okiye, from Esan North East LGA; Benjamin Obaseki from Oredo LGA, and Senator Mathew Urhoghide from Oredo LGA who is now the Director General of APC campaign council.
The APC has been able to deal with the fallout from its primaries, though not with some little fractions. The Leaders of APC, especially the likes of Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu have decided to bury their differences and come together to fight the common enemy (Governor Godwin Obaseki). Although there has been some little resignations from the party which includes chieftains like Dr Victoria Amu from Owan West LGA; Francis Inegbinoki, APC state vice chairman, from Esan Central LGA; and John Mayaki from Akoko-Edo LGA, who, although did not resign, is reportedly working against the party’s candidate.
Despite these challenges, analysts believe the APC will benefit from the PDP’s self-induced crisis, as about 95 per cent of those who resigned from the PDP have moved to the APC.
Interestingly, the APC is benefiting from the crisis in the PDP, as some high-profile PDP chieftains who have not resigned from the party have aligned with the APC and its candidate, Senator Okpebholo. These include former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu and former House of Representatives Member, Ogbeide Ihama.
Both Shaibu and Ihama, who were aspirants during the PDP governorship primary, have donated their campaign offices, vehicles, music trucks and other facilities to the APC candidate. Shaibu recently declared his support for the APC candidate, explaining that he could not support the PDP candidate as he viewed him as a product of “godfatherism” which had been eradicated in Edo State.
Shaibu stated that he joined Obaseki to fight against godfatherism during the 2020 election and learnt new political strategies from him, hence that he supported Okpebholo because he possessed the characteristics of a “homeboy” needed to take over governance in Edo State.
He said, “I will support a homeboy. I came into the contest to be Governor of Edo State because I needed governance to return to a homeboy; somebody that understands our plight and somebody that understands the feelings of the people.
“We don’t want an outsider. We have experimented with an outsider and it is not working. So, this time we want a homeboy. We have only two homeboys in the major political parties; one is in the Labour Party and one is in the All Progressives Congress.” He criticised the PDP candidate, saying, “The PDP candidate is the godson of Obaseki, and there is no way a godson can be Governor of Edo State again.”
Shaibu and Ihama’s support for the APC, it’s believed, is likely to galvanise other PDP members to reconsider their position, potentially leading to increased support for the APC.
According to analysts, the development marks a pivotal moment in Edo politics, reflecting the growing momentum for the APC. One political observer noted, “While the PDP grapples with resignations, the APC is capitalising on it, solidifying its position ahead of the election.”
A former PDP governorship aspirant, Barr Anselm Ojezua, criticised the party’s handling of the situation, saying, “PDP has been having problems; we couldn’t manage our victory principally because the man in charge (Obaseki) wants to be the say-all and the be-all. Politics is about people, and that is why every party must be in a state of mobilisation at all times to get more people into its fold. But if rather than getting more people to your side you are pursuing them away, it will impact negatively on you and your party.”
Ojezua believes the APC is gaining and benefiting from the PDP’s crisis, and that if the APC wins the election, it will be due to the PDP’s deficiencies. He expressed doubt about the PDP’s ability to stop the “bleeding” of members from the party, noting that the damage has been ongoing for four years.
He explained that: “The foundation of the crisis in PDP was laid four years ago, and the result is what you are seeing today. To even talk of a solution now will be difficult. PDP is bleeding because people are moving out of the party, and it will take time to stop the bleeding so that the party will not die. But I don’t know whether they can stop the bleeding now.”
Another factor working against the PDP is the alleged running battle with Governor Godwin Obaseki which led to the ban of “Okaigheles” (Community youth leaders in Edo south). Although the governor hide under the excuse of fighting cultism but analysts said the excuse holds no water. An analyst said the Benins are angry with the governor, including those in his government but are scared to challenge him, while some are just enjoying the SSA stipends while it last but are waiting to “teach him a lesson” on September 21 with their voters cards
The Deputy Director of the APC New Media committee, Friday Aghedo, noted that while the three major parties were in crises, the magnitude of the PDP’s problems as the ruling party is unresolvable, pointing out that the ongoing resignations would severely impact its chances as more will resign before September.
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