The Independent National Electoral
Commission( INEC ) has fixed September
10, 2016 for governorship election in Edo
State. This announcement has signalled
the take -off of the political train in the
state, stepped up campaigns,
consultations and alignments amongst
aspirants, to first get a hold on the
delegates and eventually secure victory in
the gubernatorial race. In this piece,
a nairalànder weighs the chances of
both the serious minded aspirants as well
as the jesters.


Chris Ogiemwonyi -
Chris Ogiemwonyi, a former Minister of
State for Works during the regime of former
President Goodluck Jonathan, defected
from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
to the All Progressives Congress (APC), in
November 2014, ahead of the 2015
general elections. He is believed to be
doing all within his reach in other to build
a political structure that will position him
for the APC ticket in 2016.
Ogiemwonyi, who is also a former Group
Executive Director, (Exploration and
Production), it was learnt, is banking on
his credibility in public service which
spanned over 30 years. His campaign
billboards and banners boldly carry the
inscription “Mr Integrity”. Flaunting himself
as one with integrity, the APC chieftain has
on many occasions, challenged other
aspirants to an integrity test. Some of his
ardent supporters are of the opinion that in
a free and fair primary , the Engineer may
pull surprises at the forthcoming
primaries.
He graduated from the University of Benin
with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Applied Physics in
1974 and obtained a post Graduate
Diploma (PGD), in Petroleum Engineering
in 1976 from University of Ibadan. He was
also at Harvard Business School for top
management course. He is a celebrated
technocrat and a professional.
A strong believer in intellectual capacity,
Ogiemwonyi has as part of his community
services, awarded educational
scholarships at different levels of
education to some deserving youths
,mostly the under privileged students.


Kenneth Imansuagbon -
Ken Imansuagbon is also of the All
Progressives Congress( APC ), and no
doubt a household name as far as politics
in Edo State is concerned . His popularity
soars with his yearly rice distribution,
which has earned him the nick name “Rice
Amanda”.
Besides his contribution in the educational
sector in the country, the educationist
turned politician first threw his hat into the
governorship race way back in 2007 on
the platform of the defunct Action
Congress (AC), alongside Honourable
Charles Idahosa, Mathew Atama, as the
fore front liners.
He left the party in anger and went to the
then ruling PDP after losing the AC ticket
to current governor of Edo State, Comrade
Adams Oshiomhole. It was learnt that
Imansuagbon, a major financier of the
party, played a critical role in what has
today metamorphosed into APC. In 2012,
again, he contested for the governorship
ticket on the PDP platform in a primary
that was reportedly skewed by party
leaders in favour of Major General Charles
Airhiavbere.
The snag against the philanthropist is the
calculation that the APC had long ceded
the governorship ticket to Edo South
senatorial district. Imansuagbon is from
Edo Central senatorial district.
Political watchers are of the view that his
quest to contest the 2016 governorship
race is unnecessary as the party has
decided to zone the governorship position
out of his senatorial district. Whether
Imasuegbon would remain in the APC,
should he losses the party primaries on
grounds of having come from a wrong
zone and giving his antecedents and
frequency of jumping ship, is what only
time would tell.


Osaro Onaiwu -
Mr Osaro Onaiwu, the Director General of
PDP’s Governors Forum and member of
the party, is one of the governorship
aspirants seeking his party’s nod to fly its
flag at the forthcoming election. As it
stands, the ever powerful PDP governors,
which mostly dictate the pace in their
party, may prefer him because of his
closeness and long relationship with
them. He may not have the political
structure but it is expected that PDP
governors may fund the election in Edo
State. However, his critics are of the view
that the ambition of Osaro to contest the
governorship race is just another
showmanship and can be best
categorized under the jesters.


Godwin Obaseki -
Mr Godwin Obaseki is touted to pick the
Edo APC governorship ticket because of
the backing he enjoys from Governor
Adams Oshiomhole.
Governor Oshiomhole did not mince words
when he recently told party leaders in the
state about his preference for Obaseki who
is the Chairman of Edo state Economic
Team.
Obaseki’s critics are of the view that the
business consultant investment expert is
being imposed on the party. This
development which has created wide gulf
among party leaders in the state. However,
his chances appear brighter following the
stepping down of Osarodion Ogie, a
governorship aspirant, for him.
Obaseki served as Managing Director and
Director of Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited.
In 1995 he founded SecTrust, the
predecessor company to Afrinvest,
pioneering major innovations and
providing leadership in the Nigerian stock
market.
He served on the Presidential Committee
on the Reform of the Nigerian Pension
System. Obaseki also served on the
Committee on the Re-activation of the
Nigerian Bond Market set up by the
Securities and Exchange Commission. He
is an active member of The NSE and
currently serves on its Governing Council.
He has also served on many of the
committees of The Exchange.


Osagie Ize-Iyamu -
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu hails from
Orhiomwon local government area of Edo
State and is a frontline governorship
aspirant on the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), platform.
He was secretary to Edo State government
during the second tenure of former
governor Lucky Igbinedion. He has over
the years, built his political structure
across the three senatorial districts with
large followership. He is touted to pick the
PDP governorship ticket.
As it stands, he is the only aspirants that
can give the ruling APC a fight in the
September 10th governorship election.
However, some party leaders are strongly
opposed to his candidacy because of his
link to former governor Lucky Igbinedion.


Pius Odubu -
Dr Pius Odubu is the deputy governor of
Edo State under the governor Adams
Oshiomhole led APC, administration.
The Orhiomwon born politician and lawyer
also served two terms of 8 years at the
federal House of Representatives between
1999-2006.
Odubu, who many see as the most loyal
deputy governor in the country, is now
seen to have disappointed his boss when
he is expected to prove and show his
loyalty by supporting the governor’s
preferred candidate.
The challenge now will be whether the
deputy governor will be able to over-come
the political force of his boss who has
brought development which endeared him
to the people of the state.
He is said to be encouraged by fillers from
his foot-soldiers, who are confident that
the deputy will eventually pick the party
ticket.


Oserheimen Osunbor -
Former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor, a
professor of Law and the immediate past
governor of Edo State was a major pillar of
the PDP in Edo Central Senatorial district.
He was governor of Edo State for 18
months before the emergence of
Oshiomhole through a court ruling.
Osunbor, who is from Edo Central, just like
Imansuagbon, is seen in many quarters as
a credible politicians without any tainted
past, especially when he held swayed as
the governor of the state. He is counting
on his stewardship in office to pick the
party’s ticket even though the party may
have zoned the governorship ticket to Edo
South.
Part of the agitation people of Edo central
was that since the era of Ambrose Alli, no
Esan man, aside Osunbor had been
governor. They argued that Osunbor only
served for 18 months in office between
2007-2008, when the Edo State Election
Tribunal of that period declared Osunbor’s
election invalid.


Charles Airhiavbere -
The retired Army general was the National
Coordinator of the Goodluck2Goodluck
Organization prior to the 2015 general
election, a platform charged with the sole
responsibility of canvassing support for
President Goodluck Jonathan. Airhiavbere
was a major contender in the 2012
governorship election under the umbrella
of the People’s Democratic Party, against
the incumbent governor, Adams
Oshiomhole.
But shortly after the result of the
Presidential elections was announced, the
retired General defected to the APC to
pursue his governorship ambition. He is
banking to consolidate on the political
structure he built when he contested the
2012 governorship election.
As it stands, the army general may not go
far because he is perceived to be a
stranger in the party.


Mathew Iduoriyekemwen -
Mathew Iduriyekemwen, was a one-time
majority leader in the Edo State House of
Assembly and a former Edo representative
in Niger Delta Development Commission,
NDDC. He is a member of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP.
The Edo born politician enjoys large
support of youths in the state, is also back
by former minister of Works, Architect Mike
Onolemenmen.
Majority of the party leaders believe that
Mathew in the can checkmate the political
excesses of Ize-Iyamu. Matthew
Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen, Chairman/
CEO, Samatt Globe Limited was born on
the 2nd of May 1966 in Benin City, Edo
State. He had his education at
Immaculate Conception College, Benin
City, where he obtained his West Africa
School Certificate (WASC) and General
Certificate Examination (GCE) between
1979 and 1984.
He thereafter proceeded to the University
of Benin, Benin City to study Zoology in
the Faculty of Life Science and obtained a
Second Class Honours degree in the same
course; while in UNIBEN. He equally holds
a Bachelor of Law degree from the
Ambrose Alli University.


Shedrach Efogie Nowamagbe -
Adviser Shedrach Nowamagbe, is a
popular local musician, who, through his
brand of music, have warmed his way to
the hearts of the down trodden in the
state.
As the sole governorship aspirant of the
United Progressive Party, UPP, he has
introduced a brand new party in the state
with the one challenge of how to win the
general elections, because clearly, he
would not have anybody to contend the
UPP ticket with during the party primary.
He became famous in the ancient city with
his brand of local music, which he uses as
a tool for social change in the society. He
is also referred to as the masses
chairman. The musician, who attended
Erie Primary School, Ugha in Uhumwonde
local government area, is armed with a
secondary school certificate from Western
Boys High School, Ikpoba Hills, Benin City.
He might as well be put in the category of
the jokers.


Blessing Agbomhere -
Blessing Agbomhere is the Executive
Director of Gatekeepers Foundation, Abuja,
and is amongst those seeking the APC
ticket for the governorship elections in Edo
State. He is also believed to be the
youngest among all the governorship
aspirants seeking to succeed Adams
Oshiomhole.
Aside his giant billboards at strategic
locations in the City centre, not much is
known of the greenhorn politically. He is
from Edo North senatorial district as
governor Adams Oshiomhole, who will
complete his second term by November
2016.


Osarodion Ogie -
Osarodion Ogie, another staunch member
of the APC, was the former chief of staff to
governor Oshiomhole. He is the present
commissioner for Works. He is a close
confidant of the governor who was earlier
touted to enjoy the backing of the
governor for the party’s ticket.
However, the support was shattered when
the governor endorsed Godwin Obaseki as
his successor. Ogie is said to have given
in to political pressure from close
associates to work for the emergence of
Obaseki in the forthcoming primaries.

Edo state election, God will take control.

chriskosherbal:
Edo state election, God will take control.

God in his infinite mercy and kindness I believe has already talking control.

Any body can be governor but Osazee izeiyamu

emiwanlee:
Any body can be governor but Osazee izeiyamu

Ahhh, na so you hate the man reach? Don't forget he is a pastor. hehehe

Comrade Ize Iyamu (PDP) is the next Governor of Edo State

The list is not complete


My name is not there

Imasuagbon aka 'riceman' aka 'abuja'. He is too unstable.

Another inconclusive election in embryo.