The Edo Central senatorial district of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has chosen Asue Ighodalo, a lawyer based in Lagos, as its consensus aspirant for the upcoming September 21 governorship election.
Ighodalo, a former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, is reportedly supported by the outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki, who has completed his constitutionally mandated two-term tenure. Hailing from Ewohimi in Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo Central District—an area Governor Obaseki desires to see political power shift to—Ighodalo has garnered the party’s backing.
The decision to endorse Ighodalo emerged from the Edo Central PDP caucus meeting held in Uromi on Thursday.
Following the meeting, the ruling party issued a statement co-signed by its Chairman, Archbishop Anthony Okosun; Secretary, Luckson Ogedegbe; and Legal Adviser, Barrister Paul Itua.
The statement noted that the meeting, chaired by Okosun in accordance with Section 20 (1)(a) of the 2017 PDP Constitution (as amended), solidified the party’s support for Ighodalo.
“The caucus in accordance with its functions as spelt out in Section 20 (2), considered the report of Edo Central PDP Special Committee chaired by the National Leader, High Chief Tom Ikimi,” the statement read.
“The following resolutions were adopted: The Senatorial Caucus accepted the recommendation of the Special Committee and adopted Barrister Asue Ighodalo, as the consensus aspirant of the PDP from Edo Central Senatorial District.
“The Senatorial Caucus noted that the adoption of Barrister Asue Ighodalo is without prejudice to the right of any other aspirant to pursue his or her aspiration.”
Subsequently, the caucus instructed the special committee to accompany Ighodalo and formally present him to all key stakeholders in the state as the PDP’s consensus aspirant for Edo Central.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has accused his superior of opposing his gubernatorial aspirations.
Hailing from the Edo North Senatorial District, the same district as the former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, Shaibu has been engaged in an ongoing disagreement with his principal over his political ambitions.
Earlier, Shaibu had taken legal action, filing a case at an Abuja High Court to prevent Obaseki and members of the state House of Assembly from impeaching him during the peak of their dispute. However, he later withdrew the case.