One striking thing about the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary, scheduled to be held on February 17, is that aspirants from the three senatorial zones are free to contest because zoning would not decide who gets the party’s ticket. Southsouth Bureau Chief BISI OLANIYI gives an overview of the aspirants eyeing the APC ticket
Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has released the guidelines for choosing the party’s flag bearer for the election. For instance, after consultations with stakeholders, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday decided to adopt the direct mode of primary. It had earlier indicated that there would be no zoning of the ticket and that aspirants from the three senatorial districts are free to contest.
In line with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC primary is scheduled to be held mid next month (February 17). Given the party’s no-zoning position, there is a long list of aspirants from all the zones jostling for its ticket in the South-south state.
The following are some of the aspirants that have so far indicated interest to vie for the ticket.
Joe Ikpea:
Joe Ikpea hails from Edo Central Senatorial District, where the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is likely to pick its flag bearer. Ikpea is a foundation member of the APC in Edo State and one of its major financiers. He said he is the best person to clinch the party’s ticket, based on his contributions to the party. He believes that his labour over the years would be recognised and rewarded with the 2024 governorship ticket.
Ikpea said: “We were invited for a meeting in Abuja, where we were asked to provide our membership cards, voter cards, and proof of support for the party over the years. I should be the person to be considered for Edo governorship ticket in 2024. If you look at the history of APC, I am one of the founding members, and not just a founding member, but one of the financers of the party.
“The leaders of APC can do whatsoever they wish, but I believe in God. I am going to try my best, and leave the rest to God.”
The governorship aspirant also promised to support the eventual standard bearer of APC in Edo, if he fails to clinch the ticket. He said his interest is to right the wrongs in Edo, especially the infrastructural decay, and unemployment.
Charles Airhiavbere:
Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) hails from Edo South Senatorial District, where incumbent Godwin Obaseki also comes from. The retired military officer said he is in the race because he does not want the Southsouth state to continue to remain in the opposition. He said aligning Edo State with the party at the federal level would ensure rapid development for the state.
He assured APC faithful in the state that his candidature would lead the party to victory and that he would ensure equity, justice and fairness as the governor and leader of the party.
Airhiavbere, who is the immediate past executive director (Finance and Administration) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), spoke at Oredo Ward 1 of APC in Benin, while declaring his intention to vie in the 2024 Edo governorship election. He said reclaiming Edo from the PDP is a task that must be achieved in this year’s governorship election.
Airhiavbere also insisted that the Edo APC must field its best candidate, which he represents, while stating that he needed the support of all party faithful in order to actualise his aspiration.
Clem Agba:
Prince Clem Agba is the immediate past minister of state for Budget and National Planning. The indigene of Edo North Senatorial District has promised to ensure unity and commensurate development in the Southsouth state. He has also promised to anchor his campaign on the Edo kindred spirit and the innovative “Transforming our Rural and Urban Spaces Together (TRUST)” agenda.
Speaking during his formal declaration of interest, Agba said: “I stand before you, filled with a sense of profound responsibility and unwavering commitment. I am honoured to formally announce my intention to contest for the APC governorship ticket of our great state, Edo.
“This decision, borne from deep reflections and extensive consultations with my beloved family, distinguished leaders of our party (APC), and a wide range of stakeholders across the state and country, reflects my dedication to our shared future. I am deeply humbled and grateful for the trust and confidence bestowed upon me by those who have supported and inspired me on this journey. I pray for your continued support and prayers in our shared voyage.”
The ex-minister also stated that having been raised in Edo North, educated in Edo Central, and united by marriage with Edo South, his life’s journey mirrored the multifaceted beauty and complexity of Edo state.
Kassim Afegbua:
Afegbua is a former commissioner for Information. He said he is in the 2024 governorship race to address the infrastructural decay and leadership deficiency in Edo. Afegbua who hails from Edo North Senatorial District said it is important to bring Edo State in sync with the government at the national level to fully explore the opportunities of developing the state.
He said Edo State could not afford to be in opposition, with a Federal Government that was poised to renew the citizens’ hope and take them to a place of prosperity, economic strength, stability, and pride.
The governorship aspirant said: “My intention is borne out of a genuine desire to offer a new lease of leadership to our people, following the political disconnect of the present leadership in the state, seeing the decline it has brought upon us. We have been failed and put in despair by our current leadership. There is a huge leadership deficiency in our state, and it needs an urgent and just response.”
Anamero Dekeri:
Anamero Dekeri represents Etsako Federal Constituency of Edo State at the House of Representatives. He is not joking about his governorship aspiration, as he expressed optimism of emerging victorious.
Dekeri is also providing free West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) registration for 10,000 indigent students in public schools across the three senatorial districts. He said education should be a fundamental right, accessible to all children, regardless of their socio-economic background.
The member of House of Representatives called for support for his governorship aspiration, and promised not to disappoint Edo residents.
Dennis Idahosa:
Idahosa who represents Ovia Federal Constituency of Edo State at the House of Representatives, said the time is ripe to redirect Edo for prosperity and enthrone good governance. The federal lawmaker bemoaned the present state of things across Edo. He noted that he is well equipped to navigate the state for growth and development.
Idahosa assured that the potential of Edo would be harnessed to steer the state and its residents to prosperity, while stating that he had a well-thought-out blueprint that would positively impact on the economy, infrastructure, social, sports and agricultural sectors of the state, among others.
Oserhiemen Osunbor:
Prof. Osunbor was Edo State’s governor between May 29, 2007 and November 11, 2008, when he was kicked out by the Court of Appeal, Benin, with the duly-elected Comrade Adams Oshiomhole inaugurated as governor on November 12, 2008.
The governorship aspirant, who hails from Edo Central Senatorial District, has indicated that he would continue from where he stopped, thereby ensuring good governance. He added that with the support from Edo residents in the three senatorial districts of the state, he is optimistic of being APC’s standard bearer in 2024.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu:
Osagie Ize-Iyamu is a Senior Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). He hails from Edo South Senatorial District. He was the governorship candidate of the PDP in 2016, when he contested against Godwin Obaseki of the APC who emerged winner.
In 2020, Ize-Iyamu and Obaseki swapped places, as the RCCG pastor was the standard bearer of the APC, while the incumbent governor was the candidate of the PDP. The latter still won.
Ize-Iyamu is again in the governorship race, and may be favoured by APC stakeholders, in view of his capacity and experience.
David Imuse:
Col. Imuse (rtd), the Edo Chairman of APC, is performing optimally and stabilising the party. Picking APC’s governorship ticket by Imuse may be a difficult task, in view of the presence of equally-competent aspirants in the race.
Mike Onolememen:
Onolememen, a former Minister of Works in the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, recently defected to the APC, and is also participating in the governorship race.
Gideon Ikhine:
Ikhine, a former governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP, also recently defected from the PDP to the APC. He voluntarily stepped down for Governor Godwin Obaseki before the 2020 election.
Both Onolememen and Ikhine, with their teeming supporters, were received into the APC at Uromi, the headquarters of Esan Northeast Local Government Area, by the party leader in Edo Central Senatorial District, Gen. Cecil Esekhaigbe (rtd.).
Matthew Urhoghide:
Senator Urhoghide has represented Edo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly on the platform of the PDP from 2015. He recently returned to the APC and is interested in the party’s governorship ticket for this year’s election.
Urhoghide, a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, returned to the APC almost four months after he resigned his membership of PDP. He was at APC’s Ward 2 secretariat on Airport Road, Benin, to formally register for the party. He was received by the Ward Chairman, Sunny Omokaro.
Urhoghide said he initially left the APC for the PDP due to disagreements over some issues. The federal lawmaker said he is happy to be back where he belongs.
Washington Osifo:
Dr Osifo, a legal practitioner, is a former Edo Commissioner for Education in the administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. He was among the 14 APC members-elect of Edo House of Assembly, who were elected during the 2019 general election, but were prevented by Governor Godwin Obaseki from sitting between June 2019 and June 2023.
The youthful governorship aspirant is moving round Edo State’s 18 local governments to woo APC members and leaders, in order to emerge victorious during the primary. He has promised to ensure good governance and commensurate development of the Southsouth state.
