Edo 2024: Wave of Defections as PDP and Ighodalo Bring Campaign to Etsako LGAs

As the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, continued its aggressive campaign to sway voters ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, it’s been promises upon promises as the party, led by Governor Godwin Obaseki, and its flag bearer, Asue Ighodalo, toured two local governments in Edo North senatorial district of the state on Wednesday.

The campaigns, which dragged till late in the night, witnessed the harvest of defectors from other political parties, including the All-Progressives Congress, APC, to the ruling party in the state.

A visibly excited Governor Obaseki, who was overwhelmed by the mammoth crowd at the Fugar open field in Efsako Central local government area, said, ” I have never seen this type of crowd in all the places we have visited. I want to thank you all for this massive turnout. Even when they say Etsako Central is one of the smallest local governments in the state, but you people still have this large crowd.”

Also commending them for coming out during the continuous voters’ registration exercise in the state thereby increasing the voting strength of Etsako Central, the governor described the party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, as a “Chief Master Planner”, who “has the best plans to take Edo State further into progress and prosperity.”

He assured that Ighodalo had a plan to utilize the gas from the gas pipeline that passes through Etsako Central to generate electricity for the people.

Addressing the rally, Ighodalo commended the Obaseki-led administration for the improvement in the educational system, workers welfare, infrastructure, health and others, and promised to build on what was already on the ground.

The governorship hopeful promised to eradicate poverty, create wealth and enthrone good governance, adding that what Edo needed was continuity for progress and prosperity.

While assuring the people that he and Osarodion Ogie, his running mate, would never disappoint them, if voted into power, Ighodalo charged them to come out en masse on election day and vote for the PDP.

Setting the tone for the campaign, Mike Oghiadomeh, a stalwart of the party and former Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, said the Obaseki administration had done well for people of the state, particularly, the people of Etsako Central Local Government.

Oghiadomhe, a former deputy governor in the state, thanked the governor for bringing Asue Ighodalo whom he described as “a man with proven track records”.

According to him, “the people of Etsako Central Local Government are fully with Asue Ighodalo, and they will massively vote for the party and defend their votes.”

In his speech, another chieftain of the party, Pascal Ugbome, described Ighodalo and Ogie, as “a perfect match and capable of taking Edo State to greater heights.”

The Director General of the Asue/ Ogie Campaign Council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, insisted that “the APC is not an option for progress in Edo State.” While enjoining the people to remain focused and vote the ‘umbrella’, symbol of the PDP, Iduoriyekemwen contended that “continuity is what Edo needs now.”

The state chairman of the party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, charged the people to come out en masse to vote on September 21. He also thanked them for their support for the PDP so far. Aziegbemi advised Dan Osi Orbih, his predecessor, and leader of the Legacy PDP in the state, “to retrace his steps and come back home.”

In Agbede, the campaign train was greeted with a large crowd of excited supporters who were happy that the governor and his team still made it even at that time of the night.

Appreciating the people for waiting patiently to receive them, Governor Obaseki promised that Ighodalo and Ogie would not disappoint them if they were voted for.

He assured the people that before the end of his tenure, the water issues in Agbede would be resolved.

Ighodalo, in his address, promised to tackle the problem of poor electricity supply to the area by ensuring that Agbede got its own transmission station.

He also promised to complete all ongoing projects and even provide more.

Abudu Makoh, who led over 200 APC members into the PDP, explained that they decided to join the PDP because of Obaseki’s good work in the state and some of the projects in Agbede.

He said the PDP had the best candidate, the most prepared with the requisite capacity and competence, to continue with the good works already being enjoyed in Edo State.

Makoh assured that they would vote for PDP and defend their votes.