Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Edo State, has asserted that the people of Edo, not any political figure, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will decide the outcome of the upcoming governorship election.
Ighodalo made this statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, which aired on Monday. His comments came in response to a recent declaration made by Wike. The former governor of Rivers State had publicly stated that he would not support Ighodalo in the September 21 governorship election.
Wike revealed this on the same program last Friday, explaining that Governor Godwin Obaseki had brought Ighodalo to him, seeking his support for the PDP candidate.
Wike claimed to have told Obaseki during their meeting that he would not back Ighodalo, stating, “I told them (Obaseki and Ighodalo) when they came to see me that I’m not going to support Ighodalo. Neither am I going to support anybody. The one I supported never helped anything but rather I was insulted.”
Wike also expressed his surprise at the recent request by Edo PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, who had asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Anugbum Onuoha, due to his connection to Wike.
Onuoha, who is Wike’s cousin, had served as Wike’s special adviser during his tenure as Rivers governor.
Reacting to these developments, Ighodalo expressed his disappointment with Wike’s stance, pointing out that the former Rivers governor’s account of their earlier meetings was not accurate.
“It is not correct that (former) Governor Wike said he wasn’t going to support us. That’s incorrect,” Ighodalo said, while acknowledging that Wike could have changed his mind over time. He emphasized that Wike, as a gentleman, had initially committed to staying neutral.
Ighodalo, however, stressed that regardless of Wike’s position, the decision on who will become the next governor of Edo State lies solely with the people.
He added, “The decision as to who becomes the next governor of Edo State is the decision of the people. It is not his or anybody else’s to make. Whether you are a governor or a minister, it is only Edo citizens and residents who have their PVCs who can take that decision with the support of God Almighty.”
The PDP candidate also expressed confidence in winning the upcoming election, noting that the people of Edo trust his vision for the state. He added that he would accept defeat if the election was free and fair, saying, “Honestly, if we lose this election and we know we’ve lost it fairly and squarely, I will be the first to concede.”
