- Says Candidate Is A Thoroughbred Technocrat
By Ken Afor
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has commended the party following the successful conduct of the governorship primary in Edo State, in which Dr. Asue Ighodalo, a former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, emerged as the candidate of the party.
Atiku, in a post shared on his verified X handle on Saturday and seen by TheNewDiplomat, said that the election of Dr. Ighodalo, whom he described as a thoroughbred technocrat, underscores the party’s commitment to choosing the most suitable candidate for the next governorship position.
He congratulated the leadership of the party and members in Edo State for the conduct of the primary election that produced a candidate of high caliber to represent the party in the forthcoming election scheduled for September 21, 2024.
Amid the rejection of the result of the primary by other aspirants, including the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, who has vowed to seek legal redress, Atiku, a former vice president, asserted that the party has made a choice, and there is no doubt that it is a commendable one.
He wrote: “The election of a thoroughbred technocrat by the PDP as the party’s candidate in Edo State signposts the urgency that the PDP gives to ensuring that the next governor of Edo State is a round peg in a round hole.
“The PDP leadership and members in Edo State must be congratulated also, for an amazing primary election that produced the quality of candidate to fly the flag of our party in the upcoming election.
“The party has made a choice, and it is not in dispute that the choice is a good one.”
He, therefore, pleaded with other aspirants to reconcile and negotiate in order to ensure that Edo State maintains its status as a stronghold of the PDP.
Regarding the candidate of the party, Ighodalo, aside from his intellectual prowess, Atiku expressed his firm belief that the candidate possesses the qualities to unite all individuals willing to contribute to the PDP’s success under the party’s banner.
He added: “It is, therefore, on this note that I plead with all other aspirants and aggrieved stakeholders to reconcile and negotiate to make sure that Edo remains a PDP state.
“Dr Ighodalo, apart from being a brilliant mind, in whose hands the affairs of Edo State will steer on stable waters, is also a fine gentleman.
“I believe that our candidate has what it takes to bring everyone willing to work for the interest of the PDP under the huge umbrella of our party.”
It would be recalled that on Thursday, February 22, 2024, Ighodalo secured a total of 577 votes to defeat other contestants, including the Deputy Governor, Shaibu, Mr. Anslem Ojezua, Mr. Felix Akhabue, Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi, Hajia Hadizat Umoru, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, and Mr. Arthur Esene, to clinch the party’s candidacy for the September governorship election.
