Millions of voters will file out on Saturday, September 21st, 2024, to cast their ballots for candidates in the Edo State Governorship election.
The off-cycle election has 17 candidates vying for the exalted seat at the Dennis Osadebay House in Benin City, Edo State.
They will be battling to replace Governor Godwin Obaseki whose eight-year leadership ends in November.
Obaseki came into power in 2016 under the All Progressives Congress (APC) but due to internal squabbles dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he won a second term in office in 2020.
After months of intrigues and primaries, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cleared 17 parties for the polls, according to data on the umpire’s website.
The governorship election will be held in 4,519 polling units across the 18 local government areas of Edo State.
But the big question is: who will replace Obaseki as the leader of the South-South state?
Edo Governorship Election: Who are the Candidates?
Well, here is the profile of the candidates battling it out for the number one seat in Edo State:
Okpebholo: A Lawmaker’s Shot At Guber Success
When it comes to politics in Edo State, Monday Okpebholo is not new to the scene. The senator who is representing Edo Central is the flagbearer of the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the race to replace Obaseki.
Okpebholo was affirmed as the party’s candidate for the election after a series of intrigues, accusations, and counter-accusations that trailed the party’s primary election. Three candidates including the senator had emerged from the primaries held in different places but party stakeholders affirmed Senator Okpebholo as its flagbearer for the September 21st poll.
In what many have described as a strategic move and to quell the internal tussles in the party, Okpebholo picked Dennis Idahosa – one of those who won the factional primaries – as his running mate.
In his campaign, the APC candidate promised to tackle insecurity, improve education and develop infrastructure among others. The APC chieftain is also hoping to leverage the APC leading at the national level to dislodge his opponents for the exalted seat.
However, critics and opposition have accused the APC candidate of avoiding media appearances and being unfit to rule the state.
Senator Okpebholo has a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan and is from Udomi in Uwesan-Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area (LGA).
Ighodalo’s ‘Path to Prosperity’
But for his governorship dreams to become reality, he must beat other strong contenders like Asue Ighodalo of the ruling PDP. Arguably one of the biggest names on the ballot for the exercise, Asue Ighodalo is from Okaigben, Ewohimi, in Esan South-East LGA which is in Edo Central.
A lawyer and a former economic adviser to Adams Oshiomhole (an ex-governor of Edo State), Ighodalo enjoys the support of incumbent Governor Obaseki. His campaign tagged “Pathway to Prosperity for All” promises prosperity for the people of Edo State.
He is also a member of Obaseki’s economic team. Ighodalo is the founding partner of a leading corporate and commercial law firm Banwo and Ighodalo. His running mate is another lawyer Osarodion Ogie. He studied law at the University of Ibadan and also has a master’s from the London School of Economics.
Obaseki’s backing of the PDP candidate has raised eyebrows among opponents who claim the governor wants to run for a second term under Ighodalo.
Akpata’s Bid To Disrupt Status Quo
While APC and PDP have tasted power in Edo State, Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) fancies his chances of disrupting the status quo.
A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the LP candidate is banking on the party’s success in Edo State in the 2023 presidential election. The party won the state and garnered 331,163 votes in that exercise with Peter Obi as its candidate.
In a bold move, Akpata resigned in 2023 as a senior partner with Nigerian law firm Templars to focus on his political ambition.
While the push for power shift meant the PDP and APC are fielding candidates from Edo Central (following claims of marginalisation of the zone), Akpata is from Edo South and has said his decision to vie for the seat is part of his contributions to “nation-building”.
But the human rights advocate has a somewhat tough terrain to navigate in his bid to become the governor of Edo State, the biggest being the zoning arrangement in the South-South state.
His manifesto tagged “My Pact with the People of Edo State” aims at repositioning Edo State’s economy and providing the needed infrastructure to drive growth across all sectors. It features eight key areas.
Akpata’s running mate is Yusuf Kadiri who is also a lawyer.
Other Contenders
Although the candidates of the LP, APC, and PDP are the major contenders in the Edo governorship election, there are others on the ballot. They include:
Tom Iseghohi (Action Alliance; AA)
He is 60 years old and has a West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) certificate.
Aner Abdullahi Aliu (Social Democratic Party; SDP)
According to INEC’s data, he holds a West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) certificate and maintains that the SDP is the only party that can change things for the better in Edo State.
Azena Azemhe Friday (New Nigeria Peoples Party; NNPP)
The NNPP flagbearer is a cleric with the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) where he serves as the South-South regional pastor.
Azena hails from Okpekpe in Etsako-East LGA of the state and was born on December 25, 1979. The preacher studied Mass Communication at Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State.
Osifo Isiah (All Progressives Grand Alliance; APGA)
Osifo is a former chief of staff to an ex-governor of the state Oserheimen Osunbor. The APGA candidate attended the University of Benin and describes himself as a “homeboy” of politics. He also has a Ph.D in Political Science and is a former chairman of Uhunmwonde Local Government Council. He is from the Uvbenisi community.
Ugiagbe Sylvester (All People Movement; APM)
A graduate of the Auchi Polytechnic, the APM flagbearer is in his 40s.
Areleogbe Osalumese (All Peoples Party; APP)
He is a native of Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State, and is an Accountant.
Kingson Akhime Afere (Action Democratic Party; ADP)
The ADP candidate also contested the Edo North senatorial post under the same party in the 2023 election but lost to Adams Oshiomhole. He is a 37-year-old.
Udoh David (African Action Congress; AAC)
The AAC candidate is 37 years old and also holds a degree. He prides himself as a nation-builder and pan-Africanist. He is from Emu, Esan South Local Government Area of Edo State.
Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena (Zenith Labour Party; ZLP)
He is 43 years old and holds a bachelor’s degree. The ZLP candidate has Idubor Joyce as a running mate.
Osirame Edeipo (Boot Party; BP)
The 47-year-old has a bachelor’s degree. Omorogbe Kingsley is his running mate for the election.
Iyere Kennedy (Accord Party; AP)
Kennedy is a human rights advocate and clinched the ticket for the election after other contestants stepped down for him in the party’s primaries.
His running mate is Bright Enabulele and he believes his party will bring the needed change to Edo.
Osarenren Derek Izedonmwen (African Democratic Congress; ADC)
Osarenren Derek is an engineer and is popularly called Dized. He is campaigning with the RAIISE agenda to reposition Edo State.
“I’m an engineer and leader with a vision to transform Edo into a hub of prosperity, innovation, and opportunity for all,” a part of his profile read.
Key Ndidi (Peoples Redemption Party; PRP)
She is the only female contestant in the election. Patience is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and humanitarian who hails from Ekhekhen in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State.
Paul Okungbowa Ovbokhan (Young Progressive Party; YPP).
An educationist, Ovbokhan studied at the University of Benin and is also an entrepreneur and a life coach.
