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Published on 2024-02-23 21:56:39
The gubernatorial election in Edo state is fast approaching, with three major political parties – APC, PDP, and the Labour Party (LP) – presenting their flag bearers for the upcoming election. Scheduled to replace Governor Godwin Obaseki, the election is set to take place on the 12th of October 2024, as announced by INEC.
As the current governor’s second tenure comes to an end on November 11, 2024, the focus has shifted to the contenders vying for the governorship seat in Edo state. The major contenders for the 2024 Edo gubernatorial election have been identified as Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, and Olumide Akpata of the LP.
Senator Monday Okpebholo, born on June 12, 1962, hails from Uromi, Esan North-East local government area of Edo state. Representing the Edo Central Senatorial district at the National Assembly in Abuja, Okpebholo received his education at Uromi Primary School and Uromi Grammar School. He further pursued a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and a master’s in Public Administration from the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
Asue Ighodalo, born on July 19, 1959, is a 64-year-old candidate from Okaigben, Ewohimi, Esan South East LG, Edo State. Educated at King’s College, Lagos, Ighodalo obtained a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Ibadan (UI) and an LL.B Hons from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He completed his legal education at the Nigerian Law School in 1985.
Olumide Akpata, born on October 7, 1972, emerged as the winner of the Labour Party’s primary elections. A legal practitioner from Edo state, Akpata earned his bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in 1992 and was called to the bar in 1993. Notably, he was elected president of the Nigerian Bar Association in July 2020, becoming the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to hold the position in 28 years.
In a recent development, Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, issued a warning to the PDP regarding the emergence of Ighodalo as the party’s candidate. Shaibu emphasized the importance of accepting him as the authentic candidate to avoid jeopardizing the party’s chances in the upcoming governorship election. He stressed that Edo residents prefer a candidate who is a true ‘homeboy,’ hinting at the potential consequences of neglecting his candidacy.
As the political landscape continues to evolve in Edo state, the competition between the APC, PDP, and LP candidates intensifies. With the governorship election drawing closer, all eyes are on the major contenders as they seek to secure victory and lead the state towards a new era of governance.
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