In a couple of weeks from now the political
terrain in Edo State, like most others, will
be charged, as politicians and their
supporters line the streets with campaigns
posters of every colour and size. The
political gladiators in the state are billed to
mount the soap box, first to secure their
party’s ticket for the either Senate, Federal
or state constituencies of the
Representatives or Assembly respectively
in the 2015 general elections, in line with
guidelines of the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC).
Only then, will the engage candidates of
opposing political parties for the various
seats next year. The gubernatorial election
in Edo State will not be due until sometime
in 2016.
A similar scenario played out last time in
2011, when the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) had an edge over the
other parties, particularly the People’s
Democratic Party (PDP), winning
comfortably in all most of the
constituencies, in what turned out to be a
two horse race between it and the PDP, its
main opposition in the state.
Of the 24 house of assembly seats at
stake, the APC won 20, leaving the PDP
with a paltry four. The APC under the
leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,
the State Governor, also won six of the
eight House of Representatives’ seats
contested for, while of the three senatorial
seats available APC clinched two, leaving
one for the PDP.
By mid-2012 when the gubernatorial poll
was conducted, the incumbent, Comrade
Oshiomhole defeated his PDP counterpart
in all the 18 Local Government Areas of
the state.
Early this year when the local government
councils poll was conducted by the state-
controlled Independent Electoral
Commission, the APC won all the
chairmanship seats, just as it lost only a
few councillorship seats to the rival PDP.
However, since then, as they say, a lot of
water has passed under the bridge. The
political equation in the state has changed
considerably. The first setback that the
APC suffered was the defection of some
key leaders of the party, led by the
influential erstwhile Secretary to the State
Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to
the PDP. This, keen observers of the
situation in the state believe, was an
aftermath of the party’s congresses across
the wards, local governments and even at
the state level. This later snowballed into
the defection of five of its members in the
house of assembly, all of who also
decamped to the PDP.
Many also believe that the era of a single
party securing a landslide victory in an
election in the state is gone. They are of
the opinion that if an election is held today
in the state, the two prominent political
parties will have an equal share of the
elective positions on offer, or a situation
where one of the duo would have a simple
majority of seats.
For instance, in the seven local
government councils that make up Edo
South Senatorial District comprising-
Oredo, Orhionmwon, Ovia South-West and
North-West, Egor, Uhumwonde and Ikpoba-
Okha, it is believed that the APC, based on
the support of the royal fathers in the area
may still retain its stranglehold. But this
time however, it will be by a slight, rather
than wide margin.
Some of the factors likely to help ensure a
good showing for the PDP in the state’s
largest senatorial district and home to over
52 per cent of the population, in any case,
include the caliber of its leadership and
also its likely flagbearers.
Even then, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s
factor in the politics of the state cannot be
easily wished away. When he switched
over to the PDP, he left with the larger
chunk of his supporters from the senatorial
district.
There are also other heavyweights in the
party like the Esama of Bini Kingdom,
Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, who
clocked 80 last week. He is father of
Lucky, who governed the state between
199 and 2007. His daughter, Gabriella
Omosede Igbinedion, is interested in being
a member of the House of Representatives,
representing Ovia Federal Constituency on
the ticket of the PDP.
There is also Captain Hosa Okunbor, a
billionaire, 56, considered one of the
richest men of Benin origin, who is also a
notable card carrying member and major
financier of the PDP.
In the Edo North Senatorial District where
Comrade Oshiomhole comes from,
Professor Julius Ihonvbere (the incumbent
Secretary to the State Government),
Senator Domingo Obende and a host of
others are still very relevant in the politics
of the state, and will do all that is
necessary to ensure that the APC is not
embarrassed at the polls. The current state
chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Obih, who
also hails from the zone, will nonetheless
give the APC stalwarts a good fight, in
collaboration with Chief Mike Ogiadhome,
former deputy governor and chief of staff
to President Goodluck Jonathan, among
others.
The PDP secured the only senatorial seat
and all the four house of assembly seats
credited to it during the 2011 polls in the
Central Senatorial District, homestead of
the Esan speaking people of the state.
From all indications, it’s most likely the
party will perform the same feat in the
forthcoming polls.
Ugbesia’s contenders
One factor that the party has going for it is
the fact that it has as members some of
the top guns of the politics of the area. On
the list are the chairman of the party’s
Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony
Anenih; the Minister of Works, Architect
Mike Onolememen; Senator Odion Ugbesi
and Hon. Friday Itulah of the House of
Representatives.
With no vacancy in the Denis Osadebey
Government House in Benin until 2016, he
battle for Edo Central Senatorial zone ticket
of the PDP promises to be keen, going by
the personalities jostling for it. Interestingly
also, most of the candidates are known to
be protégés of, and are touted to have
been anointed by Chief Anenih, popularly
known as the “godfather,” and “Mr fix it.”
The race for the party’s ticket, according to
those who know, is expected to be among
Onolememen, Clifford Odia, as well as the
incumbent- Senator Odion Ugbesia, who is
keen on returning to the upper legislative
chamber for a third term. While
Onolememen is seen as a possible
candidate in the race to replace
Oshiomhole at Government House in
Benin, in 2016, his ambition would clash
with that of Pastor Ize-Iyamu, among
others in the party who are yet make any
announcement. This will be Ordia’s third
attempt at getting the PDP Senatorial
ticket, which those who know says he feels
he is ordinarily “entitled,” to after beating
the incumbent in the previous primaries
before being compelled to concede to
Anenih’s choice.
Also in the fray is Egheomhanre Eyieyien,
accountant, financial analyst, chief
executive of Lagos-based Pharez
Consulting and self-styled ‘apostle in the
market place.”
Eyieyien who has taken time over the past
months to comments on his plans for the
people of Esan Central at the senate, and
the need for them to have a better lease of
life on social media, noted last week that
whereas the other three contenders are
quite close to the godfather, he is not.
Other differences that set him apart from
his co-contenders, he wrote on Facebook
last week include the facts that “they are
old members of the PDP. I just joined the
party two weeks ago.”
Continuing, he said: “I will even need a
waiver to be allowed to contest in the
party’s primaries for the Senatorial seat,
given how long I have been a member. Do
I stand a chance?”
He however hopes to meet Chief Anenih
soon, just as he expressed belief that the
elder statesman “understands that the
dynamics of politics in today’s Edo State,
nay Nigeria, have changed. The era of
godfathers imposing candidates are over. I
believe he will see that I am the best
candidate if PDP is to retain the Senatorial
seat.”
Continuing, he stressed: “I represent a New
Righteous Order in Nigeria’s political
terrain. As a professional Accountant who
has been a business entrepreneur since
1998, I understand that Nigeria’s
renaissance shall be achieved only by the
emplacement of truly people-focused
programmes which will ensure that we
have the public utilities and infrastructures
that encourage formation of private capital
and the mass creation of employment
through investments in micro, small and
medium enterprises.
“I am a social democrat but my values are
conservative and rooted in my strong
Christian faith for which I have no
apologies.
“I believe that Nigeria’s posterity can only
be assured if we promote justice, truth,
equity, good governance and the rule of
law in our polity.”
His promise: “As a Senator, I will
champion legislation that will strengthen
our war against corruption, ensure higher
budgetary allocations to education and
health, and promote fiscal federalism.
“I have no fears about my chances. PDP
people are intelligent and politically savvy.
More importantly, Esan people are
enlightened and forward-thinking.
Despite the odds against him, he however
ended the short piece with a belief in the
ability of God to change any situation,
because He “rules in the affairs of men,”
and then his slogan and a note of hope:
Esan di fure! Nigeria di fure! (It will be
well with Esanland! It will be well with
Nigeria!)”


http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/09/2015-apc-pdp-battle-soul-edo/