A political assistant to a former governor of old Bendel State (now Edo and Delta), Late Professor Ambrose Alli, Mike Ewansiha has described the forthcoming governorship election as one that should go to Edo Central zone particularly because Edo South Senatorial District is about completing eight years in government with Obaseki as governor.
Ewansiha who spoke with The Guardian in Benin City said the campaign for zoning of the ticket to the Edo Central Senatorial Zone which has not completed a four-year term appears to have gained traction last year and partly led Governor Godwin Obaseki to narrow his succession plan to Asue Ighodalo who is from Ewohinmi in Edo Central.
Ewansiha who is also a political and public affairs analyst queried why another aspirant from Edo South senatorial district should be given the guber ticket when it is only common sense that it is the turn of the Edo Central Senatorial district.
According to him, the Legacy Coalition members of PDP only exist on the pages of newspapers and would remain so before, during, and after the Edo governorship election.
“Asue Ighodalo is a political neophyte with a clout, that carries a very powerful resume and he is from a section of Edo Central Senatorial district that has never been governor. The people from that area are going to show him solidarity because their son has never occupied the office.
“At the same time, majority of Edo Central Senatorial district people are warming up to vote for a candidate from the zone. Asue Ighodalo been an aspirant known and from a party that is dominant in Edo Central stands a better chance to clinch the guber ticket of the PDP.
“Again, with the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie in the PDP working for the Governor, its going to be difficult for other aspirants opposed to Obaseki to compete with the aspirant acceptable to the governor.
“You would agree with me that Ogbeide-Ihama cannot compete with Osarodion Ogie in Edo South when it comes to mobilizing party leaders and supporters. The delegates who go for the party primary, we understand that some of them go for cash and carry. But if they go for political popularity , the SSG will deal Ogbeide-Ihama into political insignificance.
“Ogie is a political force in the state. In Edo State, he commands 80 percent solidarity among the people and in Edo south, he is a political rallying point.
“To confirm this, go to Ikpoba-Okha, Egor, Uhunwonde and Orhionmwon Local Government Councils. No politician can beat Ogie’s records in grassroot party politics.”
