Edo 2020: The Battle Rages

The struggle for the seat of Obaseki, the governor of Edo state is gaining momentum as both APC and PDP strategizes


As the countdown to the August 2020 governorship election in Edo state draws nearer, the two major political parties in the state, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) are leaving no stone unturned towards securing victory for their party. Currently, both parties are enmeshed in one crises or another which if unresolved early enough will affect the chances of the parties in the election.

The never ending rift between Governor Obaseki and his political god-father Adams Oshiomhole may be the albatross that will stand in the wheel of success for APC, the ruling party in the state. The power tussle between the two gladiators has left the party factionalized in the state. Even as the political face-off between the two camps rages on, Governor Obaseki has left no one in doubt of his determination to get re-elected for another term when his current term expires later this year. Amid fears that he may not get the APC governorship ticket owing to his not being in the good books of Oshiomhole, some of his supporters have been quick to vow that rather than go home after his current term, Obaseki will seek the ticket of another party and challenge whoever the APC fields. On his part Oshiomhole believes that the crisis within the party in the state will not affect the party’s chances of victory in the governorship election. Oshiomhole stated this in a recent meeting APC state chairpersons had with President Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

“Let me reassure you, APC is not at risk of losing Edo State in the next election. Edo people have accepted APC as a preferred party since 2008 when I assumed office and if you look at the result of elections, it shows that the people have faith in our party, on the basis of the performance of the government that the party has produced, both when I was there and even when I had left,” he told the officials. While commenting on the discord within the party and the possibility of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) leveraging on it, Oshiomhole said the opposition party had no chance for victory.

“I believe that the issues in Edo and in every other state will be resolved peacefully, to the benefit, not just of the party, but of the people in those states. We are committed to retaining Edo, particularly now that we have Bayelsa added to Edo, the more reason we cannot do anything which in our opinion, can possibly lead to APC losing Edo State. If you have been monitoring what is going on, more and more people are coming to join the APC in Edo. “If they have fears that we may lose, nobody will leave PDP to join APC. So if people are leaving PDP to come and join APC in Edo State, which is the most potent, bold statement, about the level of confidence that even the people in the opposition recognize that if they want to be in government, the party to join is the APC”.

As the primaries for the selection of candidates for the various parties kicks off within the next two months, some aspirants have already indicated interest to slug it out towards taking over Obaseki’s job as the Chief Executive Officer of the state. Though electioneering campaign has not started in the state, some members of both APC and PDP have publicly indicated interest to vie for the ticket. Those who have shown interest on the platform of the APC are the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, Chris Ogiemwonyi, Charles Airhiavbere, Pius Odubu, and Osagie Ize-Iyamu, while Omoregie Ogbiede-Ihama, Kenneth Imansuagbon, Gideon Ikhine and Ifaluyi Isibor have indicated interest on the platform of the PDP.

While those opposing the governor’s second term are of the view that he has deviated from the main governance thrust of the party, Obaseki’s supporters believe he has performed creditably well, as is evident in institutional reforms, education, health, human capital development through his laudable programmes and initiatives in the state. However, the greatest obstacle to Obaseki’s reelection bid is the supremacy battle between him and his estranged god-father, Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of his party, APC. Chris Ogiemwonyi is a former Minister of State for Works. He retired as Group Executive Director at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Ogienwonyi joined the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) after his retirement, but later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP in November 28, 2014. He contested the APC primaries for the 2016 governorship election and came a distant fourth position with 137 votes. His main challenge is that he is not considered a grassroots politician.

Charles Airhiavbere is a retired Major General in the Nigerian Army. In 2012, he emerged the governorship candidate of the PDP with 403 votes to challenge the then governor of the state Adams Oshiomhole of the then Action Congress of Nigeria. Airhiavbere, in April 2015, dumped the PDP for APC and participated in the 2016 governorship primary election where he scored only 11 votes. He is one of the arrowheads of the group fighting against Governor Obaseki’s second term. Osagie Ize-Iyamu was appointed Chief of Staff to Governor Lucky Igbinedion between 1999 and 2003. He was later elevated to the position of Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He however dumped the PDP in 2007 for Action Congress of Nigeria and worked for the election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. He dumped the APC to join PDP in 2014 and emerged the party’s gubernatorial flag bearer in 2016 but lost to Governor Godwin Obaseki. In 2019, Ize-Iyamu resigned from the PDP and joined the APC. He is believed to have been brought into the APC by Adams Oshiomhole to contest the governorship election against Obaseki. Ize-Iyamu is a grassroots politician who has supporters across the state. His main challenge is how to convince the electorates that he have their interest at heart, not his personal selfish interest of becoming governor by all means.

Pius Odubu was deputy governor to Adams Oshiomhole all through his eight years in office but could not succeed his principal. He contested the 2016 primary election in his quest to succeed Oshiomhole but came second with 471 votes. Odubu is in the camp of those fighting against the governor. He was appointed the board chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) but was not sworn in by President Muhammad Buhari after being cleared by the Senate. Odubu is a grassroots politician and two time member of the House of Representatives. His greatest challenge is whether he will get the full support of Oshiomhole with the entrance of Ize-Iyamu into the race who is believed to be the anointed candidate of the Oshiomhole camp.

Hon. Ogbiede Ihama is a member of the House of Representatives, representing Oredo Federal constituency. Ihama won a second term in 2019 – a feat that has not been achieved by any politician in the constituency. He is a grassroots politician with supporters spread across Edo South Senatorial district. He has been making consultations across the state after declaring his interest to contest the governorship ticket under the platform of PDP. Kenneth Imansuagbon was a member of the PDP before his defection to the APC. He contested the 2016 governorship election and lost to the incumbent Governor Obaseki. In 2018, he decamped to the PDP from the APC and has shown interest in contesting the 2020 governorship primary under the PDP. He is a philanthropist popularly known as “rice man” for distributing rice to his people during festive periods. His challenge is that after losing election, he would disappear and come back whenever election is approaching.

Gideon Ikhine is from Edo Central Senatorial district and has remained a member of the PDP. He is a grassroots politician who believes Edo State needs grassroots political leaders with compassionate heart. Ikhine has declared his interest to contest the 2020 governorship election of the state under the platform of PDP. As a grassroots politician, he helped the PDP win two House of Representatives seat and a Senate in the last two consecutive elections. Ifaluyi Isibor is a former House of Representatives member who represented Egor/Ikpoba Okha federal constituency between 2007 and 2011 and also a former federal commissioner in the federal character commission between 2014 and 2018. He is eyeing the governorship seat under the platform of PDP. As the primaries for the selection of candidates and the election proper draws closer, happenings in Edo state will be a good theatre to watch.