The Oredo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council has said that the only candidate and political party with the structure to win the upcoming election are Asue Ighodalo and the PDP.
At a press conference in Benin City on Monday, Crusoe Osagie, Chairman of the Publicity Committee for the Oredo PDP Campaign Council, highlighted that the race will involve the PDP, the All-Progressives Congress (APC), and the Labour Party (LP).
Osagie emphasized that APC’s candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and LP’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, lack the necessary capability to lead Edo State effectively.
“This leaves us with one viable candidate, Dr. Asuelimen Ighodalo, an accomplished lawyer who established one of the largest law firms in Africa, Banwo and Ighodalo, known for having the largest number of lawyers and paying some of the highest wages in the country.
He has chaired numerous blue-chip companies, successfully managed businesses, and provided pro bono advice and guidance to various governments, from the time of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to the present.
We believe he is the only candidate with the viability to lead. We urge all Edo people to support us in Oredo as we aim to secure a landslide victory for the PDP and Ighodalo. We are confident about our success in Oredo Local Government Area and call on other local government areas to join us in doing the right thing.”
Discussing the deficiencies of other candidates, Osagie criticized LP’s Olumide Akpata, describing him as an “inexperienced private sector practitioner who has never held a government position.”
He also noted Akpata’s lack of political sensitivity for running from Edo South when the people wanted a candidate from Edo Central.
“He lacks political sensitivity; otherwise, he would have considered the interests of the entire senatorial district over his personal ambition.
Edo Central Senatorial District has been excluded from governorship consideration for over twenty years and deserves representation. It’s not just about personal ambition but about equity, fairness, and justice”, he stated.
Regarding APC’s Okpebholo, Osagie stated that Okpebholo lacks the intelligence and capability to govern Edo State.
He said, “Despite being from Edo Central, he lacks the necessary qualities to lead. We expect our leaders to be more intelligent than us because we entrust them with our future. How can we trust someone who cannot distinguish between a zoo and a museum to lead us?
While he may be a successful businessman, he is not suited to be the governor of our state. We cannot place the collective destiny of over four million people in his hands; therefore, he is unqualified to be our governor.”