The future-definning moment of Edo State is weeks away when we shall be voting in the next governor who will be in power for the next four or the next eight years as the case may be. This election is critical to the development of Edo State and I have called it on several platforms as a ‘make or mar election.’ It is an election where we must decide to continue to move the state forward no matter our political divide.
And how can we move the state forward? We can by simply voting in the candidate that will use his capacity, expertise, competence, experience and capabilities to move the state forward. Who amongst the three leading candidates have the above requirements associated with leadership? Obviously Dr Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Ighodalo is not a new name, it is rather an household name in Edo State as of today because he is the most widely accepted candidate due to what he brings to the table in terms of contemporary leadership. He is this modern creative mind that has combined law and economics to open vistas of opportunities for himself and others. He is the best for the job.
There are rumours of arrest of PDP chieftains in Edo State and also rumours that the All Peoples Congress, APC, as well as the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Olumide Akpata, will likely collude with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to rig the election in their strongholds. I want to use this opportunity to tell members of the PDP not to fall for that gimmick or rumour.
In the 2023 presidential election, the APC could not use Federal Might in Edo State. The votes casted by each voter counted. If we also flash back to the 2020 gubernatorial election, the same Federal Might was never used because it couldn’t be used. The Edo State voters are unique people; they vote their consciences and protect their votes.
This is what is going to happen in this gubernatorial election; let voters vote for Dr Asue Ighodalo of the PDP as he is the most competent of the leading contestants by every imagination.
The police, as well as INEC, will carry out their constitutional duties before, on that day and after the election.
Every voter must be encouraged to vote for Dr Asue Ighodalo, every voter must protect his vote at the polling unit, and they must make sure the results are announced transparently before they leave the units. Party agents who are duty bound to follow up the results to the collation centres must be diligent in their duties to make sure they are not shortchanged. The victory of Dr Asue Ighodalo is going to be assured at the polling units, nothing will thwart it.
