From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo Central PDP Special Committee set up to screen governorship aspirants from the senatorial district and headed by former foreign affairs minister and national leader of the party, Chief Tom Ikimi, will today announce its consensus aspirant.
This came to light yesterday at the end of the meeting of the Committee, where John Yakubu, a two time Esan North-East Local Government Council chairman stood down his governorship ambition for Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
Speaking with journalists at Igueben, shortly after a meeting with the Edo Central PDP Special Committee, Yakubu said he decided to step down for the interest of the party as well as the positive activities displayed by Ighodalo.
“After due consultation across our top party leadership spectrum, members of my Campaign Organisation and my teeming supporters, across the three Senatorial Districts and beyond, I have decided, that for the overall interest of our party and the yearning of Edo people to continue to have the PDP at Osadebe Avenue, to lay down my gubernatorial aspiration.
“Going by the wise direction paved and shown by our party Senatorial leadership so far, the body language of members of our party and the positive activities displayed by Dr. Asue Ighodalo himself, it has become very clear that he, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, stands in good position to bring about this much needed development to us as a party and in the state.
“On this ground, I stand solidly behind Dr. Asue Ighodalo, not only as our gubernatorial Candidate but in all of the activities that will ensure his victory and our victory at the polls come September, 2024”, Yakubu stated.
Four other aspirants – former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and House of Representativess member, Friday Itula, the immediate past Senator representing the district, Clifford Odia, ex-Speaker and current House of Representatives member, Marcus Onobun and Kenneth Awolimen – had earlier stepped down for Ighodalo.