Edo 2024: Ogbeide-Ihama Vows to Win Guber Election if PDP Gives Him Party Ticket

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Ahead of the party primaries to select candidates to fly party flags in the September governorship election in Edo State, one of the frontline aspirants, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, has boasted that if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) makes him its candidate, the September election would be walk over, as he has been a member of the party since 1998.

The two-time member of the House of Representatives, who represented Oredo federal constituency, stated this in Benin-city, Edo State, after purchasing the Expression of Interest and nomination forms from the party secretariat in Abuja, also promised free healthcare for the elderly in the state. He said: “This is a formal notification and a passionate appeal to the leadership of the party to support me on my governorship ambition in 2024.

“There have been speculations and questions if Ogbeide-Ihama is interested in the governorship race or not.”  

“I want to formally notify you that I am contesting, and I need your support.

“Since 1998 till now that I have registered as a member of the party, I have remained in the party. I am a loyal member of my party. So, if we are to talk about loyalty, I am that person.

 “If you talk about experience, I have the political and managerial experience to govern Edo State. I have the managerial skills to manage humans and resources of the state. I have the needed human relationship. I want to be governor of Edo State and not a senatorial district. I am fully ready. All I need is your prayers. I will be the governor of Edo State and not a senatorial district.

 “I want to bring development to Edo State. I want to empower our youths so that they can stand on their own. I want to stop child mortality. There is no reason anyone above 70 years in Edo State should lack healthcare. I want to give quality free healthcare to our aged parents. Edo will be a state all of us would be proud of with Ogbeide-Ihama as governor.”

The crowd-pulling declaration was held at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre where he met with Edo South senatorial leaders of the party.

Prominent among the Legacy Coalition members present were a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Charles Idahosa; senatorial leader of the party, Idehen Ebomoyi; state Deputy Chairman of the party, Harrison Omagbon; state Woman Leader of the party, Mrs. Tes Sorae; former Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Esosa Amadasun; Mr. Martins Osakue among others.

Speaking at the rally, Idahosa said he supported Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020 and followed him to the PDP to get his second term with the coinage of the word torgba, and “today, I have come before all of you to say osene (it is his time).