Politics, according to the title of Harold Lasswell’s 1936 book which later served as the standard lay definition of the subject, is “who gets what, when, how”. This definition, though it appears simple, is so apt and will likely be playing in the minds of the electorate as Edo State heads into the 2024 gubernatorial election, especially with the growing number of aspirants.
As the days count down to the political party primaries in February, the Edo 2024 election is setting a new record as over 68 aspirants across major political parties have indicated interest to occupy the number one seat of the state at Dennis Osadebey Avenue come November next year. This unprecedented number of aspirants has become a talking point on the lips of many in the streets of Benin City and across the state.
A breakdown of the aspirants so far shows that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has 29, Labour Party (LP) has 28, and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has 11. This figure excludes aspirants from other parties.
The influx of aspirants into the Edo 2024 governorship race has kept many persons wondering what could have prompted this development because since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, Edo State has never witnessed such a large number of aspirants. Many are asking whether this growing interest in the Edo State Government House is born out of a genuine desire to serve and deliver good governance to Edo people or just another attempt by politicians to take control of the state’s resources and apparatus for their own selfish interest and political patronage.
As the day goes by, and as political parties get set to conduct their primary elections in February 2024 to produce their various candidate as stipulated by the electoral guidelines released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), answers to some of these burning questions will become glaring to the electorate.
It is looking like a tough battle ahead as the state governor, Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), will be banking on his achievements in the past over seven years to campaign and produce a successor from his party, while the APC, which had also been at the helm of affairs in the state before the PDP takeover, will be capitalizing on its previous record and probably look for loopholes in the current administration. The Labour Party (LP), which many people have referred to as the new bride in town due to the huge impact it recorded in the state and the country during the last general election and the support it enjoys from the teeming youths, will be looking to take advantage of that in its campaign.
But while attention has so far focused on the male aspirants, not many are taking note of the growing list of female aspirants who have vowed to upset their male counterparts and occupy Osadebay House in 2024.
Female aspirants ready for the battle
Come 2024, Edo women who have indicated interest in the state’s top job say they are ready to match their male counterpart force for force as the gubernatorial election approaches. These women are not relenting as they have vowed to resist any form of gender-based political violence aimed to suppress them or their aspiration.
Since 1999, Edo State has not produced a female governor or deputy governor as it has been a men’s affair, leaving the womenfolk to jostle for political appointments. Even the 35 per cent affirmative action, that is, for women to be appointed into 35 per cent of political offices, has not come into full force as men still dominate the political space.
A look at the political history of Edo State since 1999 shows that from 1999-2007, Lucky Igbinedion was the governor of the state and Chief Mike Ogiadomhe was deputy governor. When Prof Osariemen Osunbor was governor from 2007-2008, his deputy was a man, Chief Lucky Imasuen. From 2008 to 2016, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was governor and Rt. Hon. Pius Odubu was deputy governor. And since 2016, the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, has had Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu as deputy governor, and there are no indications that anything will change until the administration winds down on November 11, 2024.
Out of the 68 aspirants across the three major political parties so far, The Nigerian Observer has identified five women – one from the PDP, one from the APC, and three from Labour Party.
Omosede Igbinedion
Omosede Igbinedion, a former lawmaker, was elected as the youngest female member into the 8th Assembly of the Nigerian House of Representatives in 2015 under the platform of the PDP, where she represented the Ovia Federal Constituency which consists of Ovia North-East and Ovia South-West Local Government Areas of Edo State. During her term in the House of Representatives, she was the Deputy Chairman, House Services and a member of a number of committees, including Local Content, Aviation, Downstream Petroleum, FCT, Judiciary, Rural Development, and Women in Parliament. She is currently aspiring to fly the flag of the PDP in the 2024 Edo governorship election.
Victoria Amua Amu
Victoria Amua Amu is a United States-trained occupational therapist and a philanthropist who hails from Sabongida Ora in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State. Amu, who is currently the only female aspirant on the platform of the APC, will be counting on her track record in good governance, committed leadership and philanthropic gesture to pave way for her.
Dr Angela Aburime-Asom
Angela Aburime-Asom is a medical doctor who hails from Edo Central Senatorial District, a zone that seems to be the favourite of many stakeholders to produce the next governor of the state. Indeed, many stakeholders have clamoured that all political parties in the state should zone their tickets to Edo Central in the interest of equity and fairness. Her aspiration, on the platform of the Labour Party, seems to have so far received a nod both from within and outside the party.
Dr Loretta Oduware Ogboro-Okor
Loretta Oduware Ogboro-Okor is a Nigerian UK-trained consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. She is a medical simulation expert, global goodwill ambassador, and president of the University of Benin Alumni Association, UK. She has been able to blend her work in the science field of medical practice with being an author, a passionate motivational speaker, women and youth health advocate, educationist and medical simulation trainer as well as a social entrepreneur and an ardent blogger (Wikipedia). The renowned medical practitioner is aspiring for the Edo State number one seat on the platform of the Labour Party.
Dr Ogboro-Okor, while making public her declaration last week Monday at the Labour Party secretariat in Benin city, said, “A lot of women are always at the back door, it is time we took our place in the political space; we have to be at the table so that we can shake it.
“We thank all our fathers who are standing with us to bring light to the state, we are happy that our fathers are ready to support us.”
Princess Asha Emily Okojie
A distinguished humanitarian and philanthropist, Princess Asha Emily Okojie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). Her resolve for humanitarian work is unshaken such that she has continued to reach out to the less privileged in the society despite her political aspiration. She is currently an aspirant under the platform of the Labour Party.
No more marginalisation of women in Edo politics
Meanwhile, at the Edo Women Conference held at the Lawn Tennis Court of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City in November as part of activities marking the 2023 Alaghodaro Economic Summit, the First Lady of the state, Mrs Besty Obaseki, preached against marginalisation of women in the political space.
As a wake-up call to ensure that women are not marginalized in the forthcoming Edo 2024 election, Mrs Obaseki threatened to prosecute perpetrators of gender-based political violence against women in the state.
She frowned at the marginalization of women in politics and at home by their male counterparts, noting that women have continually been abused emotionally, physically and financially. She said she would not only drag offenders to court but would fight the matter to the very end.
“Gender-based political violence is not permitted in Edo State and domestic violence also. If you are reported, I will take the matter up and we will see in court,” the First Lady said.
As the days roll by, and as preparations for the election get into top gear, it is left to be seen how all of this will play out.
