By Zika Bobby
The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Edo State 2024 governorship election, Asue Ighodalo may be getting some boost from an unlikely source: the All Progressives Congress, (APC) it was learnt.
A group of opposition APC members and loyalists of the Adams Oshiomhole-led administration officials are outrightly saying they would vote for the PDP over the emergence of Ogie as the running-mate to Ighodalo. They also cited the irreconcilable crisis in the APC over the emergence of their governorship candidate and the emergence of Dennis Idahosa as running-mate to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the APC.
A chieftain of the APC who preferred anonymity said the choice of Dennis Idahosa over Hon. Ogbeide Ihama as running-mate in the APC would impact negatively on the election.
It would be recalled that some prominent leaders of Edo South Senatorial district such as Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Gen Charles Airhavbere Rtd, Chief Lucky Imasuen among others had last week declared support for the emergence of Ogbeide as running mate to Senator Okpebholo. This decision is causing disaffection in the APC and could spell doom for the party in the election.
Another disgruntled loyalist of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole said the PDP has made the election easier with the choice of Ogie as the running-mate to Ighodalo and thus paving the way for the victory of the PDP.
Investigation also showed a swath of APC supporters from Edo North and Central would back PDP over APC in the election due to the influence and goodwill of Osarodion Ogie.
The willingness of some APC to cross party lines hints at what may become a key factor in September due to the Ogie factor, it was gathered.