Barring any last-minute change by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the governorship election in Edo State is scheduled for September 10, 2016 going by the commission’s timetable. And in preparation for the election, INEC has also given the political parties June deadline to conduct their primaries with a view to presenting their candidates for the election. As for the APC, June 18, 2016 has been formally approved by the party to hold its primary but as at the time of filing this report, the PDP has not come up officially with a date for its governorship primary. Less than four months to the election, how prepared are the political parties and their aspirants? The crew of The New Diplomat went round the state and felt the pulse of Edo people on their expectations.
Basically, there are two major political parties in Edo State at the moment, which from all indications, are running neck-to-neck to take over from Comrade Oshiomhole — the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was at a time the ruling party in the state. One very interesting aspect of this particular governorship contest in Edo State is that these two parties have had their share of governance in the state at different times. The Edo people have had the opportunity of seeing it all and are well-equipped to assess each of the parties and their candidates before they make their choice.
From our investigation, it could be seen that the two political parties parade the best materials available in the state. Talking about experience, political sagacity, maturity, academic qualifications and popularity both the APC and the PDP possess the materials for the governorship job.
The APC camp for instance, boasts of political juggernauts in the likes of Mr. Godwin Obaseki (currently the chairman of the Edo State Economic Strategy Team), the Deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu; the ‘Rice man’, Mr. Imansuangbon and the former Minister of State for Works, Mr. Chris Ogienwonyi.
The opposition PDP parades the likes of Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu (a former Secretary to Government in Oshiomhole’s firt term), Mr. Solomon Edebiri, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu and Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekwemwen.
It thus appears that the parties may be facing a herculean task in picking their flag-bearers. This is because nearly all the aspirants in the contest are products of defections either from the PDP to APC or vice versa. And from our investigation, that trend is likely to continue and we may be seeing a situation where aspirants who are dissatisfied with the primary would decamp to the other party even before the September 10, 2016 deadline. This permutation is hinged on the fact that neither the PDP nor the APC has a settled house at the moment.
Taking a look at the APC for instance, in spite of the fact that the governor, Oshiomhole, is a member of the party, in spite of the fact that the national chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun is from the state, our findings show that it might not be easy to conduct a peaceful and harmonious primary that will produce a generally acceptable flag-bearer for the party. Governor Oshiomhole has publicly declared his Economic Strategy Team chairman, Godwin Obaseki as his choice to succeed him. His deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu who also nurses governorship ambition after two tenures as deputy, has made his intention known to his boss and he is not willing to back down.
To try and broker peace between the governor and his deputy before the party’s primary slated for June 18, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Osarodion Ogie and a few stakeholders of the party, including close associates of the governor and the deputy, were drafted into a reconciliation committee to resolve the impasse. The reconciliation committee members led by Ogie met with the governor and his deputy in Benin on April 18, 2016 where the duo bared their minds. A source at the meeting disclosed that Oshiomhole confronted Odubu with the alleged plan to use witchcraft to eliminate him (the governor), adding that the native doctors he engaged who disclosed the plan to him were ready to testify. Oshiomhole had accused Odubu of engaging the services of a witch-doctor to kill him (Oshiomhole) so that he could become the governor.
Our investigation revealed that the governor actually believed what he was told about the alleged witch-doctor stuff.
He claimed that as a result of the witchcraft story, he had chosen not to attend any ceremony where his deputy would be playing a major role. In fact, the governor confessed that his absence at the deputy governor’s wife’s birthday ceremony was to avoid being poisoned. He was quoted to have said that a party leader who leaked the alleged secret plot to him had travelled out of the country, adding that he would be ready to confront Odubu with evidence whenever he returns. The deputy governor, our source disclosed, denied any plan to kill the governor, adding that the native doctors should be brought for them to swear to the deities of Edo State. The Ogie-led committee however managed to calm the two big shots, they shared a forced smile and a handshake with a promise to work for the progress of the party. But this was before the alleged attack on the deputy governor by some hoodlums in Edo North which he believed were actually rented to assassinate him. But the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Kazzim Afegbua, dismissed the assassination story of the deputy governor, describing it as untrue.
The Edo Police Command has begun investigation into the matter. Just while the rumbling about the alleged assassination plot against the deputy governor was settling, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Victor Edoror and his deputy, Bright Osayande were impeached by 16 members of the House. Some believe it was a move aimed at putting a loyal House leadership in place to do the bidding of the governor to commence impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor. But the members, who had since elected another speaker in the person of Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, had defended their decision to impeach the former speaker over allegation of high-handedness, financial recklessness, among others. Not even the purported intervention of Governor Oshiomhole could sway the lawmakers to rescind their decision. In fact, when the new speaker visited the governor to introduce herself, she reiterated the position of the House, pleading with the governor to allow the decision stay.
Meanwhile, the speaker has set up a committee to probe the alleged financial recklessness of the former speaker. While the rift between Oshiomhole and his deputy, Mr. Odubu continues, there is no gainsaying the fact that the APC house in the state is in disarray. Some have described it as a house that is in atomistic war against itself and this much has been acknowledged by the national chairman of the APC, Odigie-Oyegun who, apparently worried by the result which the present internal wrangling is likely to produce for the party, had directed the party’s Deputy National chairman (South), Mr. Segun Oni, to wade into the rift between the governor and his deputy. With no specific mandate, it is doubtful if Segun Oni would be able to achieve peace between the two henchmen which is highly needed for the party to excel come September 10. Oyegun’s fear may not be unfounded. In 2007, the PDP which was then the ruling party was bedevilled by internal wrangling of the proportion that is currently ravaging the APC. The inability of the party’s hierarchy to manage the crisis culminated in its eventual defeat by the APC. How far Segun Oni could go to restore sanity to the APC house within the limited time will depend on how fast the governor and his deputy could resolve their personal differences. The New Diplomat finding indicates that Oshiomhole has not only made his choice on his successor, he is also determined to drag with him Odubu to the exit to bid the Government House goodbye.
Odubu on his part, seems to have a strong conviction that he is the perfect man to step into the big shoes which Oshiomhole is about to leave. While addressing a gathering of delegates in Auchi recently shortly after his convoy was allegedly attacked, Odubu declared he had what it takes to turn the fortunes for the better, adding that he was not coming to take but to give what he has to the people of Edo State. The Deputy Governor, from our findings, is not in a hurry to drop his ambition. What appears to be his grudge with his boss is his fear that Oshiomhole does not seem to have any political plan for him. Therefore, for as long as the bickering within the party and especially, between the governor and his deputy continues, it is doubtful if the APC could put its house in order within the limited time left to retain the election.The troubled house of the APC would ordinarily have offered the opposition a leeway to recapture what it lost in 2007; but our findings have shown that the PDP is not faring any better. The political gladiators in this camp had earlier in the year resolved to forge a strong unity if they are to give the APC a good run for its money. In fact, this much was demonstrated a few months ago during their ward congress where the prominent contestants to the governorship election on the platform of the party sat together and exchanged pleasantries while the exercise lasted.
Speaking to The New Diplomat in an exclusive interview recently, one of the frontline contestants on the platform of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, disclosed that the aspirants have resolved that whoever picks the governorship ticket on the platform of the PDP would be accorded the support of other contestants. If that was the spirit a few months ago, it is doubtful if the aspirants still see themselves as co-travellers in the interest of their party. Recent happenings appear to indicate that things are already falling apart among the aspirants. Accusations and counter-accusations seem to be the order of the day among the first eleven of the party in the race. Ize Iyamu was accused of relegating other aspirants to the background, claiming he alone has what it takes to reclaim the government from the APC. He was also accused of being the only one courageous enough to confront the outgoing governor, Oshiomhole, on what he considers his wasteful government. Iyamu was also accused of claiming to be the only aspirant who gave out N100,000 to each ward across the state during the 2015 election. This has not gone down well with other aspirants of the party. Osaro Onaiwu, another frontline aspirant of the party took a swipe at the Redeem Church Pastor, urging the party executive to call him to order. He reminded Iyamu of his performance during the last election, adding that while himself (Onaiwu) and other aspirants “delivered” in their areas, Iyamu did not. With the bickering on, it might difficult to face the challenge ahead. And it is that prompted the former BOT chairman of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, to admonish the aspirants to close ranks in order to retake the governance of Edo State come September 10.
A cross section of the political class whose views The New Diplomat sampled in at least 18 council areas of the State point to the fact that with less than four months to the governorship election, the chances of victory for either of the parties still remain 51-49 with APC maintaining a very marginal lead. This perhaps is because of the in-fighting, bickering and back-biting in the camps of the PDP and APC simultaneously.
While none of the two political parties has an overriding edge over the other, a third stakeholders in the political space of Edo state might just be the beneficiary of the crisis within the parties and this is the electorate. The voters in Edo State have seen it all. They have had eight years apiece under the PDP and the APC that is winding up now. They have become the ultimate judge on who would rule them as from September 10, 2016. Whether the pendulum swings in favour of the PDP or the APC at the end of the day whoever emerges would be the product of ‘EDO-DECIDE 2016’
Basically, there are two major political parties in Edo State at the moment, which from all indications, are running neck-to-neck to take over from Comrade Oshiomhole — the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was at a time the ruling party in the state. One very interesting aspect of this particular governorship contest in Edo State is that these two parties have had their share of governance in the state at different times. The Edo people have had the opportunity of seeing it all and are well-equipped to assess each of the parties and their candidates before they make their choice.
From our investigation, it could be seen that the two political parties parade the best materials available in the state. Talking about experience, political sagacity, maturity, academic qualifications and popularity both the APC and the PDP possess the materials for the governorship job.
The APC camp for instance, boasts of political juggernauts in the likes of Mr. Godwin Obaseki (currently the chairman of the Edo State Economic Strategy Team), the Deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu; the ‘Rice man’, Mr. Imansuangbon and the former Minister of State for Works, Mr. Chris Ogienwonyi.
The opposition PDP parades the likes of Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu (a former Secretary to Government in Oshiomhole’s firt term), Mr. Solomon Edebiri, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu and Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekwemwen.
It thus appears that the parties may be facing a herculean task in picking their flag-bearers. This is because nearly all the aspirants in the contest are products of defections either from the PDP to APC or vice versa. And from our investigation, that trend is likely to continue and we may be seeing a situation where aspirants who are dissatisfied with the primary would decamp to the other party even before the September 10, 2016 deadline. This permutation is hinged on the fact that neither the PDP nor the APC has a settled house at the moment.
Taking a look at the APC for instance, in spite of the fact that the governor, Oshiomhole, is a member of the party, in spite of the fact that the national chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun is from the state, our findings show that it might not be easy to conduct a peaceful and harmonious primary that will produce a generally acceptable flag-bearer for the party. Governor Oshiomhole has publicly declared his Economic Strategy Team chairman, Godwin Obaseki as his choice to succeed him. His deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu who also nurses governorship ambition after two tenures as deputy, has made his intention known to his boss and he is not willing to back down.
To try and broker peace between the governor and his deputy before the party’s primary slated for June 18, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Osarodion Ogie and a few stakeholders of the party, including close associates of the governor and the deputy, were drafted into a reconciliation committee to resolve the impasse. The reconciliation committee members led by Ogie met with the governor and his deputy in Benin on April 18, 2016 where the duo bared their minds. A source at the meeting disclosed that Oshiomhole confronted Odubu with the alleged plan to use witchcraft to eliminate him (the governor), adding that the native doctors he engaged who disclosed the plan to him were ready to testify. Oshiomhole had accused Odubu of engaging the services of a witch-doctor to kill him (Oshiomhole) so that he could become the governor.
Our investigation revealed that the governor actually believed what he was told about the alleged witch-doctor stuff.
He claimed that as a result of the witchcraft story, he had chosen not to attend any ceremony where his deputy would be playing a major role. In fact, the governor confessed that his absence at the deputy governor’s wife’s birthday ceremony was to avoid being poisoned. He was quoted to have said that a party leader who leaked the alleged secret plot to him had travelled out of the country, adding that he would be ready to confront Odubu with evidence whenever he returns. The deputy governor, our source disclosed, denied any plan to kill the governor, adding that the native doctors should be brought for them to swear to the deities of Edo State. The Ogie-led committee however managed to calm the two big shots, they shared a forced smile and a handshake with a promise to work for the progress of the party. But this was before the alleged attack on the deputy governor by some hoodlums in Edo North which he believed were actually rented to assassinate him. But the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Kazzim Afegbua, dismissed the assassination story of the deputy governor, describing it as untrue.
The Edo Police Command has begun investigation into the matter. Just while the rumbling about the alleged assassination plot against the deputy governor was settling, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Victor Edoror and his deputy, Bright Osayande were impeached by 16 members of the House. Some believe it was a move aimed at putting a loyal House leadership in place to do the bidding of the governor to commence impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor. But the members, who had since elected another speaker in the person of Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, had defended their decision to impeach the former speaker over allegation of high-handedness, financial recklessness, among others. Not even the purported intervention of Governor Oshiomhole could sway the lawmakers to rescind their decision. In fact, when the new speaker visited the governor to introduce herself, she reiterated the position of the House, pleading with the governor to allow the decision stay.
Meanwhile, the speaker has set up a committee to probe the alleged financial recklessness of the former speaker. While the rift between Oshiomhole and his deputy, Mr. Odubu continues, there is no gainsaying the fact that the APC house in the state is in disarray. Some have described it as a house that is in atomistic war against itself and this much has been acknowledged by the national chairman of the APC, Odigie-Oyegun who, apparently worried by the result which the present internal wrangling is likely to produce for the party, had directed the party’s Deputy National chairman (South), Mr. Segun Oni, to wade into the rift between the governor and his deputy. With no specific mandate, it is doubtful if Segun Oni would be able to achieve peace between the two henchmen which is highly needed for the party to excel come September 10. Oyegun’s fear may not be unfounded. In 2007, the PDP which was then the ruling party was bedevilled by internal wrangling of the proportion that is currently ravaging the APC. The inability of the party’s hierarchy to manage the crisis culminated in its eventual defeat by the APC. How far Segun Oni could go to restore sanity to the APC house within the limited time will depend on how fast the governor and his deputy could resolve their personal differences. The New Diplomat finding indicates that Oshiomhole has not only made his choice on his successor, he is also determined to drag with him Odubu to the exit to bid the Government House goodbye.
Odubu on his part, seems to have a strong conviction that he is the perfect man to step into the big shoes which Oshiomhole is about to leave. While addressing a gathering of delegates in Auchi recently shortly after his convoy was allegedly attacked, Odubu declared he had what it takes to turn the fortunes for the better, adding that he was not coming to take but to give what he has to the people of Edo State. The Deputy Governor, from our findings, is not in a hurry to drop his ambition. What appears to be his grudge with his boss is his fear that Oshiomhole does not seem to have any political plan for him. Therefore, for as long as the bickering within the party and especially, between the governor and his deputy continues, it is doubtful if the APC could put its house in order within the limited time left to retain the election.The troubled house of the APC would ordinarily have offered the opposition a leeway to recapture what it lost in 2007; but our findings have shown that the PDP is not faring any better. The political gladiators in this camp had earlier in the year resolved to forge a strong unity if they are to give the APC a good run for its money. In fact, this much was demonstrated a few months ago during their ward congress where the prominent contestants to the governorship election on the platform of the party sat together and exchanged pleasantries while the exercise lasted.
Speaking to The New Diplomat in an exclusive interview recently, one of the frontline contestants on the platform of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, disclosed that the aspirants have resolved that whoever picks the governorship ticket on the platform of the PDP would be accorded the support of other contestants. If that was the spirit a few months ago, it is doubtful if the aspirants still see themselves as co-travellers in the interest of their party. Recent happenings appear to indicate that things are already falling apart among the aspirants. Accusations and counter-accusations seem to be the order of the day among the first eleven of the party in the race. Ize Iyamu was accused of relegating other aspirants to the background, claiming he alone has what it takes to reclaim the government from the APC. He was also accused of being the only one courageous enough to confront the outgoing governor, Oshiomhole, on what he considers his wasteful government. Iyamu was also accused of claiming to be the only aspirant who gave out N100,000 to each ward across the state during the 2015 election. This has not gone down well with other aspirants of the party. Osaro Onaiwu, another frontline aspirant of the party took a swipe at the Redeem Church Pastor, urging the party executive to call him to order. He reminded Iyamu of his performance during the last election, adding that while himself (Onaiwu) and other aspirants “delivered” in their areas, Iyamu did not. With the bickering on, it might difficult to face the challenge ahead. And it is that prompted the former BOT chairman of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, to admonish the aspirants to close ranks in order to retake the governance of Edo State come September 10.
A cross section of the political class whose views The New Diplomat sampled in at least 18 council areas of the State point to the fact that with less than four months to the governorship election, the chances of victory for either of the parties still remain 51-49 with APC maintaining a very marginal lead. This perhaps is because of the in-fighting, bickering and back-biting in the camps of the PDP and APC simultaneously.
While none of the two political parties has an overriding edge over the other, a third stakeholders in the political space of Edo state might just be the beneficiary of the crisis within the parties and this is the electorate. The voters in Edo State have seen it all. They have had eight years apiece under the PDP and the APC that is winding up now. They have become the ultimate judge on who would rule them as from September 10, 2016. Whether the pendulum swings in favour of the PDP or the APC at the end of the day whoever emerges would be the product of ‘EDO-DECIDE 2016’
