As many discerning Nigerians eagerly await today’s screening of all governorship aspirants on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party for the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, the highly anticipated election is generating tensions for all aspirants, politicians, watchers of political developments and political analysts.
Available information at the weekend indicated that 11 aspirants so far purchased and picked up the forms at the Wadata Plaza, which houses the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja.
The party has also raked in about N375 million from the sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest forms.
While the state’s ruling party pegged the Nomination Forms at N30 million per aspirant and the Expression of Interest form at N5 million, it however made the EOI form free for female aspirants as well as those who are physically challenged.
It was also gathered that among the aspirants were two female contestants, who paid N30 million each for their nomination forms having been exempted from paying for the EOI forms as directed by the party.
Aspirants who purchased the forms included the embattled Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu; a former Chairman of Sterling Bank, Asue Ighodalo; and Blessing Igbinedion, daughter of Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.
Others also aspiring to take over at the Osadebe House from incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, are Anselm Usiose Ojezua, Omoregie Ihama, Umoru Hadizat, Felix Akhabue, and Martin Uhomoibhi.
Meanwhile, reports further indicated that the PDP may have adopted the indirect primary and approved ad-hoc delegates as the method to pick its governorship candidate that would square up with contestants from other political parties come Saturday, September 21, 2024 poll.
It was also gathered that the party’s National Working Committee was not interested in adopting the zoning formula for its ticket in Edo State with an inside source explaining that party members would elect delegates at ward and local government levels with these delegates moving to Benin, the state capital on February 22 to elect the party’s flag bearer.
Asked about his chances in the screening exercise, Anselm Ojezua, told The Point on Sunday that his chances were good and added that members of the screening committee were “eminent and responsible Nigerians” who would do a good job.
Ojezua also said that beyond the screening, he was the best PDP candidate to unite the party in a manner that would prepare it for victory in the election.
“My chances are good and as for the members of the screening committee, I don’t see why they should not do a good job.
“I have looked through the lists of the members and they are very eminent and responsible Nigerians. They have held responsibilities that were much more than screening and I think they were very carefully picked to get the job done.
“Screening, really, is not a very difficult or complicated process. It is just to ensure that whoever the party is putting up does not have an issue in terms of his qualifications, and I think that the major thing in terms of education is that the person must possess a minimum of secondary school education.
“And looking through the lists of aspirants, without being arrogant at all, and just relying on my personal relationships, my experience as a politician and my disposition towards everybody, I believe I have earned enough people’s trust.
“If the people give me the opportunity, within this very short time, I will be able to unite, to a large substantial extent, the party in a manner that would prepare it for victory in the election coming up towards the end of the year.
“That is my main selling point,” he said
Also asked how he would go about winning the sole PDP governorship ticket if he scales through the screening hurdle, Ojezua said, “I think the biggest issue in PDP Edo State at the moment is that even at this time, we still have two major groups, if not factions.
“We have those in support of Governor Obaseki and those who are in The Legacy Coalition under the leadership of Dan Orbih.
“If both groups work together, PDP is sure to win. If they do not, then they would have donated the state to another party.”
