After the final publishing of the list of eligible candidates to participate in Edo State governorship election forthcoming by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC few days ago. The incumbent Governor Mr, Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress APC, will slug it out with 12 other candidates at the 18 local government areas of the state on 19th September.
Very recently the former energertic National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole, was given a grand reception on his arrival the airport in the state, despites coronavirus Covid-19.
Some of us, the Edo State political watchers, understand that he has returned to his home state, to do everything legally possible to enthrone Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as Gov. Obaseki's successor, in the Edo State forthcoming Governorship elections, scheduled to take place in September 19th.
The epic contest is not going to be an easy one because the PDP and the Mr, Obaseki are also keen on retaining the state which they currently control, after Obaseki's defection to the party PDP.
While APC at national level under the leadership of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, lead by the Executive Governor of Yobe State H.E Mai-Mala Buni had appointed 49-member campaign council for the state, with the mandate to ensure the party's governorship candidate Mr, Ize-Iyamu emerge victorious in the race.
We have also heard the speculations that the former Governor of the state, Oshiomole, will not leave Edo, till after the elections.
However, Interestingly both the duo of APC and PDP have candidates who challenged themselves in 2016. Godwin Obaseki who is now the candidate of the PDP was the candidate of the APC.
As I understand in my personal opinion, Oshiomole's return to support Ize-Iyamu, is not out of place, but may not have so much effect as expected by some of us whose following the political activities in the state.
I think the ousted national president of APC and embattled godfather of Edo politics, Oshiomole's return to Benin yesterday 19th July, after his brief political holidays, would declare his mission to unseat Gov. Obaseki and enthrone Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as his successor in the state guber race.
First and foremost, Edo citizens may sincerely, not cherish the fact that a former governor, of the same state, is playing such a crucial role and that sounds to them like godfatherism, hence, they may rather vote for a man, who decided to be without godfathers.
Although, Gov. Obaseki also have Godfathers in the PDP who has surrendered party the to him, he might get a landslide victory if people of Edo State decided wisely.
Even more, as the governor of the State, surely has a strong followership, hence, he may be unperturbed by the presence of energetic Oshiomole.
Oshiomole's name rings a bell in Nigeria, the highly energetic former APC national chairman, is now named a member in Edo State APC's campaign council, to ensure Ize-Iyamu's victory in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Moreover, the interesting thing is that, Gov. Obaseki, just left APC few weeks ago, therefore he's still being viewed as very unstable in his political decision after his defection from APC to PDP, as 'cross-carpeting' might spell doom the PDP. Hence, the good people of Edo, would rather vote for Pastor Ize-Iyamu of APC, than to vote for a stranger.
However, we may recall that over 500 members of the APC in Edo State, defected to the PDP and this goes a long way to state that Governor Gov. Obaseki, is truly a force to reckon with in Edo State and such, fears no opposition.
Indeed, the political sphere is really tense in Edo State and many excitedly await the September 19th all Out political combat between PDP and APC.
Meanwhile, the Edo-born business mogul and philanthropist, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, has raised the alarm over alleged plans by Governor Godwin Obaseki to burn down his farms and revoke Certificate of Occupancy of his houses in Edo state.
The business mogul, fondly referred to as Captain Hosa by associates in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari today 20th July 2020.
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