The leader of People’s Democratic Party, PDP leaders’ forum, for Edo north and former deputy governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, has explained why the zone adopted Barrister Asue Ighodalo to fly the party’s flag in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.
The highly respected Edo north PDP leader declared further that their decision to concede the governorship ticket to a more competent candidate from Edo Central Senatorial District was unselfish but designed to keep the PDP in Edo State intact as well as abide by zoning principle contained in the party’s constitution.
He spoke at the formal declaration of Bar. Asue Ighodalo for the Edo governorship on Wednesday, in Benin. Chief Oghiadomhe, aside serving as deputy governor in Edo, was also the Chief of Staff (CoS) to former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Sounding very elated, Chief Oghiadomhe, himself a veteran of several political battles, said the choice of the Edo north PDP leaders was informed by concerns for justice, equity, fairness, and respect for the PDP constitution which allows for zoning and power rotation.
Chief Oghiadomhe also poured encomiums on Asue Ighodalo, describing him as “humble, open to ideas, suave, competent, tested, trusted, and urbane”.
According to him, the Edo north PDP leaders were strategic in the way they arrived at the decision to adopt Ighodalo.
At their first meeting on November 9, 2023 Chief Oghiadomhe said, the Forum took due cognizance of the PDP constitution which provided for zoning and rotation of party offices. It was in recognition of that that they opted to support the Edo central.
He further noted that the only condition that would have deprived Edo central of benefiting from the zoning arrangement is if they could not produce a capable individual to the Edo people.
Explaining further on how the Edo north leaders finally zeroed in on Ighodalo, whom he described as a “treasure”, Oghiadomhe noted that the Forum, comprising former and current political office holders, elected or appointed, met on January 8, 2024, and resolved to adopt Ighodalo for the governorship ticket and also lend their critical support to the success of the PDP.
He said Edo north PDP was resolute in their support for the aspirations of Dr Ighodalo to become the next governor of the state and by that meet the general expectations of the average Edo man who earnestly yearn for Edo governor of Edo central extraction for equity and justice in the political equation of the state.
