By Abiola Olawale
The winner of the Edo state governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Asue Ighodalo, has extended hands of sportsmanship to the deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu and other aspirants in the just-concluded election.
Ighodalo, after receiving his Certificate of Return, on Tuesday, from the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), said it is time for the party to be united to achieve its main goal in the forthcoming gubernatorial election of Edo state.
The New Diplomat reports that Ighodalo was presented the Certificate of Return at the PDP National secretariat, Wadata Plaza, stamping him as the authentic candidate of the party in the forthcoming September 21, governorship election in Edo state.
It would be recalled that Ighodalo had emerged winner of the governorship primary which took place last week Thursday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The former chairman of Sterling Bank, in a landslide victory, polled 577 of the 585 accredited votes to clinch the party’s ticket, defeating nine other aspirants.
However, a parallel election sees the incumbent deputy governor of the state declared as the winner of the election. The deputy governor had since laid claim to the governorship ticket, calling PDP to give him the Certificate of Return.
However, the national chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, ignored Shaibu, to present the certificate to Ighodalo.
Speaking during the presentation, the chairman said that PDP is one and that the party organised and recognised only the primary election which took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin and produced Ighodalo as its candidate.
Expressing confidence that the party will emerge victorious in the September governorship election, Damagum said, “Edo is an easy ride for us. We will emerge victorious. What we should be focused on now is uniting our party and bringing all stakeholders together to ensure we retain our seat at Osadebe Avenue.
“You have to put in your all going forward. I wish to use the opportunity to congratulate our party’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, and wish you success as you go around the State during your campaign.”
In his appreciation speech, Ighodalo commended all stakeholders of the party for their support, promising to transform Edo state into a first-world economy if elected as governor.
He said, “I thank our party members and leaders as well as other stakeholders of the party, especially the youths, who took me through the length and breadth of Edo State during my consultation to become our party’s candidate. I am extremely proud to be a member of this party. I also appreciate our women for their love and support. They carried me on their back from day one.
“I am grateful for the fairness and transparency of the national leadership of the party. I salute the NWC for the transparent and fair manner in which it conducted the primary election in Edo State. The MKO Abiola election of 1993 was the closest to what we recorded at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Thursday, February 22, 2024.
“To the youth, it’s our time. By the grace of God and the will of the people of Edo state, we will run a government upheld by youths and with youths. Together, we will turn Edo into a state that everyone will be proud of.
“I will show leadership and direction. Our youths have promised that they won’t fail. We will show the rest of the world what we can achieve together as a people. We can become a first-world sovereign in Africa. I have seen the path and together, with your support and collaboration, we will achieve this.
“The contest is over. Let’s come together as one. We need to work together as one team. We must unite to retain our seat at Osadebe Avenue and drive the progress of our state.”
“I promise that this ticket is for all of us. I will take your advice; we will work together in the interest of our people. You’re all great men and women with varying capabilities and capacities. We will bring these capabilities together to move our state forward.” he added.
