Five anti-Obaseki forces who dashed Ighodalo’s hope

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Saturday governorship election in Edo State. According to the Returning Officer who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Of Technology, Minna, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo polled 291,667 votes to defeat his arch rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who secured 247,274 votes.

Daily Trust reports that the APC won in 11 local government areas while the PDP won seven. The APC won the six local governments in Edo North Senatorial District and two out of the five local government in Edo Central Senatorial district. Beyond the loss and victory, this piece focused on some individuals who played key roles in the election and contributed to its outcome.

NYESOM WIKE

At the time APC denied Obaseki returning ticket in the build-up to 2020 Edo election, Nyesom Wike, then governor of Rivers State, and some other PDP gave him a solid backing to secure the party’s ticket. Wike, now Minister of Federal Capital Teritorry (FCT), worked for Obaseki’s victory against APC’s Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the 2020 election.

Not long after his re-election, Obaseki and Wike fell apart. In fact, Obaseki supported former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, against Wike, as the Presidential candidate of PDP in the last election. Wike would later tender apology to Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Obaseki’s estranged godfather, to forgive him for “helping Obaseki win re-election.”

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The FCT Minister in the build-up to the Saturday’s election stated he would not support the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, having fallen out with Obaseki.

But during an interview, Obaseki said Edo voters do not need Wike’s influence to decide who they would vote for.

He said, “He (Wike) came to get Edo people to vote for me, right? Wow! Edo people are not that dumb. They know who to vote for. They don’t require the services of an outsider to make their decisions. Edo people will make decisions this time because they know what they want.”

At a point, the PDP through its Edo State Chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, demanded redeployment of the State REC, Anugbum Onuoha as well the Commissioner of Police, CP Nemi Edwin-Iwo, over their alleged ties with Wike.

Aziegbemi said, “We are worried that the election may have been compromised even before it start. This is because we are certain that the officials responsible for conducting a free, fair, and credible election are close associates of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.”

Wike dismissed allegations of him influencing the appointment of his cousin, Onuoha, as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, warning propagandists that ‘nobody born of a woman’ can intimidate his cousin.

PHILIP SHAIBU

During the rift between Obaseki and Oshiomhole in 2020, Shaibu stood behind Obaseki against Oshiomhole, noting that the former governor was playing godfather when they both never allowed such to happen in Edo. Like Wike, Shaibu was another key factor in securing Obaseki’s reelection. He particularly took the political battle to Oshiomhole’s doorstep, attacking with foul languages at different fora.

However, the table turned as Shaibu, fell out with Obaseki over his governorship ambition. Obaseki didn’t only deny him PDP ticket, he masterminded his impeachment.  There was a twist in July as Shaibu was reinstated as the deputy governor by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Following his reinstatement, Shaibu, defected to APC alongside several key PDP legacy coalition members.

Shaibu’s defection to a large extent depleted PDP’s strength going into the Saturday’s election. He described Obaseki’s candidate as an outsider, saying he would rather back APC candidate.

“I will support a homeboy. I came into the contest to be governor of Edo State because I needed governance to return to a homeboy, somebody who understands our plight and somebody who understands what the people are feeling.

“We don’t want an outsider. We have experimented with an outsider and it is not working, so this time, we want a homeboy. We have only two home boys in the major political parties; one is in the Labour Party and one is in the All Progressives Congress,” Shaibu said.

DAN ORBIH

Dan Orbih, former National Vice Chairman, South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and immediate past Edo Chairman of the party, is another political leader, who worked against Ighodalo’s victory.

Orbih, one of the allies of Wike, did not hide his hatred for Obaseki and his anointed candidate. He is the leader of the Legacy Group, comprising leaders of PDP worked for Obaseki’s victory in 2020. The group members were at loggerhead with governor for not fulfilling promises he made to them during the Edo 2020 election.

When Ighodalo emerged party’s candidate, Orbih declared he would not support him. Infact, he rejected PDP’s governorship campaign council’s membership.

The leader of anti-Obaseki’s Legacy Coalition, who hails from Etsako Central Local Government Area in Edo North, said: “Nobody told me of any governorship campaign council membership in Edo PDP. I am not aware of it.

“Some persons, who saw my name on the list, called me. I have not seen the list, and I am not aware of it. I am not party to the composition of the campaign council.”

In June, pro-Obaseki PDP leaders expelled Orbih, from the party, for alleged anti – party.

The party said it has also expelled Shaibu, and Hon. Omorgie Ogbeide Ihama, an immediate past House of Reps member, representing Oredo Federal Constituency.

ANSLEM OJEZUA

Ojezua is another Obaseki’s ally turned political enemy. He was State chairman of the Edo State chapter of APC and led members of executives from state to ward to pitch tenth with the PDP when Obaseki was denied returning ticket in 2020. In leading the party leaders, he cited loss of confidence in the national leadership of the APC and alleged disobedience to the party’s constitution.

The resolution which was signed by 22 members of the Executives of the party led Ojezua and Chairmen of the party across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State, said over 150, 000 supporters of their supporters have concluded plans to defect with them.

However, Ojezua like Shaibu fell out with Obaseki over his governorship ambition on the platform of PDP.

After Obaseki’s man emerged PDP candidate, Ojezua faulted the primary and dragged Ighodalo to court.

Ojezua said he sought redress in court because Obaseki, “played a huge role in ensuring that the primary was not transparent”.

“I am not satisfied with the outcome. From the onset, I have expressed my impression that the process was neither transparent nor was it in obedience to the rules,” Ojezua said.

Early this month, a Court of Appeal, Abuja division, dismissed Ojezua’s suit seeking disqualification of Ighodalo’s candidacy.

KABIRU ADJOTO

He is a former Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly who defected from PDP after falling out with Obaseki. There are allegations that he fell out with Obaseki over his failure to name his deputy after the controversial impeachment of Shaibu.

Obaseki named Marvellous Omobayo as his deputy, a development which reportedly set him up against Adjoto.

At a meeting of the Legacy Group held at Orbih’s country home in Ogbona, Adjoto tackled Obaseki over his failure to manage 2020 electoral victory.

He said that instead of consolidating on the victory recorded in 2020 election by rewarding those who worked for his re-election, Obaseki opted for others in the party who did not work for the party.

“Dan Orbih, we have seen what you saw and we are here to queue behind you anywhere you go, we go. We are waiting for you instruction,” Adjoto said.