Ahead of the February primaries, no fewer than 50 aspirants are jostling to contest in the Edo State governorship election coming up in September, Nigerian Tribune has learnt.
The main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is reported to have the highest numbers of aspirants totaling 35.
It is followed by the Labour Party (LP), which has aspirants to include Mr Kenneth Imasuangbon, former Nigeria Bar Association President (NBA), Mr Olumide Akpata and Honourable Sergious Ogun.
It was learnt that a former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Honourable Clem Agba was the first aspirant to purchase expression and nomination forms to contest the primary under the APC.
He was followed by General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Five aspirants have purchased the forms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They include the daughter of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Honourable Omosede Igbinedion, said to be the first PDP aspirant from Edo to pick the forms at the party headquarters, Wadata House, Abuja.
Other aspirants, who reportedly picked the PDP nomination and expression of interest forms on Thursday are the Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu; Dr Asue Ighodalo, Felix Akhabue, and Anslem Ojezua.
Meanwhile, the Philip Shaibu Campaign Organization (PSCO) has condemned the alleged Sunday attack on the campaign vehicle of the deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu in Ekpoma, Esan local government area.
This was contained in a statement signed by Chief Sunday Okumayin, on behalf of the organisation and made available to journalists on Monday in Benin, the state capital.
Okumayin alleged that the assault was sponsored by individuals affiliated with a PDP aspirant.
The statement read: “The Philip Shaibu Campaign Organisation is deeply troubled by the recent attack on the campaign vehicle belonging to our principal, Comrade Philip Shaibu, in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
“Sponsored individuals affiliated with a PDP aspirant launched a violent assault on the vehicle, driven by the coordinator of the campaign in Esan West, Mr. Otoide Abas.
“The incident occurred shortly after Mr. Otoide concluded a productive meeting with Ward 10 (Illeh) PDP faithful. On his way to meet other supporters in Ekpoma, he made a quick stop at the local market square to purchase some beef barbecue (Suya).
“The hoodlums then took their time to thoroughly destroy the Philip Shaibu Campaign vehicle, firing multiple shots at it while Mr. Otoide and others sought safety.
“We find these acts of violence deeply disturbing and want to state categorically that Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu and his campaign organization are committed to the well-being and progress of the people of Edo State.”
“Rt. Honourable Comrade Philip Shaibu, remains undeterred by these malicious acts. He is determined to reclaim the state from business-oriented individuals whose priorities lie in personal gain, rather than the welfare of the people”, it said
Okumayin, called on security agencies to look into the matter, adding that such an event weakens the democratic process in the state.
In another development, the Labour Party has said that part of its preparation for the September gubernatorial election in the state is to field a candidate, whose link to the people is undoubtedly rooted.
In a telephone interview, former presidential spokesman of the party, Tanko Yunusa, said, the party had learnt lessons from the Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states off-season elections and the experiences has shaped its decision to ensure that whoever emerged as its candidate on February 22, would be the people’s choice.
Tanko said the process for the primary would be thorough and reflect the will of the Edo people, so as to produce a winning candidate for the party in the elections.
“We (Labour Party) want to field a candidate that can galvanize the electorate to the ballot and win convincingly with a wide margin that no one or technicality can upturn.
“We want to field a candidate that will win the primary clean and fair, and at the same time, General election which is the aspiration of the Edo people,” he said.
Tanko said all the aspirants are sure that the party has its goodwill among the Edo people and would bring their credibility on board to swell the chances of the Labour Party come September 2024.
“We want to ensure that this time around, we have candidate, who is well-rooted within the grassroots; that can populate the votes for the party and there will not be any ambiguity in terms of either legal or physical voting that would take place at the various polling units in the state.
“So, it is our target to ensure that we have a full proof election that will stand the test of time because we know the general level of contest that will take place in Edo State, he told the Nigerian Tribune.
The former presidential Spokesman of the Labour Party said in the lots of the party aspirants are quality people whose track record can be vouched for and as such, it can only produce a popular candidate that would improve the party‘s place in the ballot.
“Look at the quality of people in the Edo political space, seeking for the party’s ticket, most of them are tested politicians who have been able to prove their worth.
“You also know that Edo State is one of our forte and our hub for the presidential election with a candidate that synced with the people, Mr Peter Gregory Obi.
Tanko said the preparation by the party was to ensure that the victory secured at the ballot cannot be contested by anyone. Where such a contest arises, and comes before the court, it would be very convincing as it would be the mandate of the Edo people clearly reflected in the ballot for the Labour Party and cannot be upturned.
“So as a party, we hope to leverage on fielding the best candidate with capacity and one loved by the people. We have learned our lessons from the elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo.
“These outcomes were not palatable lessons to us, as a LP, we should have done better, considering the kind of love that we share in Imo state, so we are trying to make sure that the lessons from these fields are utilized to give the Edo people a candidate, they love and would mobilize for and defend the mandate.
“We are trying to ensure that whoever emerges will be free of any legal accusations whatsoever, we want to ensure that the primary is conducted without any iota of doubts in the minds of the winner and the contestants.
“He or she must have gone through the thorough screening process and come out with the prerequisite needed to be a Labour Party candidate, without any baggages whatsoever, so that when he is going for the election, he will go for the election hopefully to win clearly with a wide margin so that even if anyone goes to court, the court would see that the victory is without any ambiguity that this candidate won square and clean.