In a significant development, two leading aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 Governorship Election in Edo State, Friday Itulah and Hon. Kenneth Ahbulimen have stepped down from the race, declaring their full support for Asue Ighodalo, the immediate past Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc and frontrunner in the PDP.
The duo, while disclosing their decision at a meeting of the PDP’s Special Committee for Edo Agenda for a Governor of Esan extraction, expressed their confidence in Barr. Ighodalo’s candidacy and emphasized the importance of party unity to secure victory in the forthcoming election.
They said the decision was in the spirit of patriotism as they are putting the interest of Esan people and Edo people ahead of their personal interests; and that they believed that Ighodalo was the most competent candidate running.
Recall that leaders of the PDP had on the 13th of November 2023 held a meeting of Edo Central leaders and stakeholders where it was resolved that the party’s ticket should come to Edo Central senatorial district.
The meeting was held at the residence of the former minister of foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi.
Among the leaders at the 13th November meeting were, Archbishop Dr Anthony Okosun, Barr. Luckson Ogedegbe, and Hon Joe Edionwele Former member, House of Reps ( Esan West) among other members.
After intensive deliberations they resolved in a communique that “…the Special Committee is the body that will work out the structure and procedures that will drive the Edo Agenda for a Governor of Esan extraction in 2024 .
“The committee is to appeal to other Senatorial districts for it to allow Edo Central Senatorial District produce the next Governor of the State for the purpose of fairness, Justice and equity, for which Edo People are known for”.
Today’s aspirant endorsements follow the endorsement last week in Esan North East LG of Barr. Asue Ighodalo by the 55 ward executive members of of the PDP at the residence of Chief Tony Anenih.
The Chief Tom Ikimi led PDP Special Committee hopes to unite the ambitions of the senatorial district by pruning down the remaining governorship aspirants in Edo Central to one ‘consensus’ candidate, on Saturday the 6th of January.
