Idahosa Asks APC, PDP, LP to Pick Guber Candidates from Edo Central

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Charles Idahosa yesterday asked all major political parties to pick their governorship candidates from Edo Central in the spirit of equity and fairness.

Idahosa gave the advice at a session with journalists as part of activities to mark his 70th birthday in Benin City.

At the session, Idahosa noted that the advice became necessary since chairmen of major political parties, mainly APC, PDP and LP were from Edo Central, including the National Chairman of Labour Party.

He said: “If these major political parties are able to convince and influence their members to make somebody from the zone as their candidate, it would be easier for the district to achieve their clamour for governorship.

“Politics is a game of number and Edo South has more advantage because it consist of about 58.2 percent of the state population while the remaining two, Edo Central and North share the rest percentage.

“Edo Central is the least. In the present political dispensation, the zone has not had a full shot at the governorship. I think it is worthwhile that they be supported. But this can only materialise properly if all three major political parties chose a candidate from the zone.

“This is achievable since the three state party chairmen all come from the zone, including the national chairman of LP party. The onus is on them to persuade their members to about someone from the area candidate.”

Idahosa, who recently received a national honour, Officer of the Federal Republic, said Edo 2024 elections would be free and fair as the introduction of BVAS would make it impossible for the election to be rigged.

“Edo 2024 governorship election will be free and fair, because the introduction of BVAS has made it difficult for election to be rigged in Nigeria. This last election was a free and fair election. Where sitting governors could not make it to the senate.

“Former President, Muhammadu Buhari lost in his home state, Kastina, Samuel Ortom could not make it to the senate. I even lost my ward. In Enugu, the former governor was unable to win the senate seat too.

“That is one-thirds of the state. So, Edo 2024 will be free and fair. Some people say APC will win because Tinubu is the president. It will not be easy. The next governor of Edo State must be a home boy and not an imported financial magician.

“This time around, nobody will come to tell us, he is this or that in Lagos or London. He must be one of us who knows everywhere, not an imported financial guru,” he said.

On the Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal (PEPT), Idahosa declared the judgement as perfect, noting that the election ab initio was a victim of the social media. 

He said a lot of things happened “on the social media that you cannot verify. How can somebody tell me that if you do not win a Abuja, you will not win the presidency. Are the people of Abuja different from other Nigerians?

“I do not understand. People put sentiment in the judgement. Some say there is watermark. Others say Babatunde Fashola prepared the judgement. Many even say Justice Odili wrote the judgement.

“I have read the judgement and it is very clear and there is no ambiguity. I believe President Tinubu will make Nigeria great again,” PDP’s chieftain explained.