Edo 2024: Former Senator, Speaker, Others Step Down for Asue Ighodalo

*PDP special committee adjourns screening of aspirants

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The member of the House of Representatives, representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency and leading governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Marcus Onobun has stepped down from the race, declaring his total support for the former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

This is as Senator Clifford Ordia has also dropped his governorship ambition for Ighodalo.
Ordia was the immediate past Senator who represented Edo Central senatorial district in the Red Chamber.
Following the endorsements, the Edo Central PDP Special Committee has adjourned the screening of the governorship aspirants from the senatorial zone scheduled for yesterday to Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

The adjournment was one of the decisions the committee took yesterday in its meeting, which was held at the Igueben residence of the party’s national leader, Chief Tom Ikimi, who is also the Chairman of the Special Committee.

Previously, two leading aspirants of the party, Friday Itulah and Kenneth Ahbulimen, had during the week, stepped down, declaring support for Ighodalo, citing patriotism and the interest of Esan and Edo people for their decisions.
Onobun’s endorsement of Ighodalo was conveyed in a letter personally signed by him following his inability to attend the screening of aspirants of Esan extraction as a result of the funeral ceremony of his grandfather, Pa Iregbeyen Onobun.

According to him, his decision to step down and collapse his structure for Dr. Asue Ighodalo followed due consultation and in the Spirit of Sportsmanship and respect for leaders of Esan land.
Noting that Asue Ighodalo was a credible, competent and qualified candidate, Onobun however pledged to work tirelessly to ensure the emergence of an Esan man as the next governor of Edo State

He said, “I have done consultation across the state, and in the Spirit of sportsmanship and respect for our leaders, I wish to suspend my Aspiration for Edo Governorship 2024 and support my brother, Barr. Asue Ighodalo.
“It is my desire to see an Esan man become Edo Governor in 2024. And I pledge my Commitment to take a front seat in this Struggle.  God bless my leader and the Edo Central Special Committee.”

Aspirants present at Ikimi’s residence included: Mr. Anselm Ojiezua, Senator Clifford Ordia, Hon. John Yakubu, Ambassador Martins Uhomoibhi and Mr. Asue Ighodalo.
In his opening remarks, Ikimi thanked the aspirants for their commitments to the overall interest of the party and the Esan people.
On his part, Ojiezua informed the committee that he was still consulting and was waiting for the outcome of the decision of the committee.
Senator Ordia said for the overall interest of the party, personal sacrifices must be made. He announced that he had decided to support the ambition of Ighodalo.

Hon. John Yakubu told the committee that he had gone around the state and needed time to consult before communicating his decision to the committee within the next 24 hours.
Ambassador Martins Uhomoibhi also requested more time to consult before making his position known.
On his part, Ighodalo thanked the committee for their sacrifices and pledged his continuous alignment with the committee.
After a brief meeting with members of the committee, its Chairman, Ikimi adjourned the screening of aspirants to Wednesday, January 10, 2024, to give time for some aspirants to consult further.