The confusion about who the true candidates for the 2023 general elections are for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Edo central senatorial district was finally put to rest on Friday during the inauguration of the party campaign council in the zone.
The event was attended by all the notable leaders of the party in Edo central, including Chief Ulifoh, Johnny Abhulimen, the DG of the PDP campaign council for Edo Central, Mr. Ben Ehiolenbojaye saw some prominent leaders of the party speaking with one voice, endorsing the candidates from the zone who were all present there as the only candidates who are known to them and who they are campaigning for ahead the legislative elections in a few weeks’ time.
Speaking first, a former deputy governorship candidate of the party, and one-time chairman of Esan North-East LGA, Mr. John Yakubu, declared to the crowd of supporters present at the Uroomi senatorial office of the party that it is wrong asserting for party members to be talking about not knowing who to campaign for in the senatorial zone as far as the party was concerned, stating that the only candidates who met all the requirement as far as the primaries were concerned are Arc. Mike Onolememen for the Senate, Lewis Osobase, and Felix Akhabue for the house of reps,
According to Yakubu; “During the primary held at Ubiaja, we know those who contest. The greatest lie anybody can tell you in the party is to say let us go and campaign but we don’t know who we are campaigning for, as we know who we have, I know who I’m campaigning for and that person is Arc. Onolememen for Senate, Lewis Osobase and Felix Akhabue for the house of reps for Agbazilo and Okpebho”.
“As members of the Edo Central PDP, we have our candidates and we know them, Aiku, for President, Onolememen for Senate, Osobase, and Akhabue for the house of reps as well as all our candidates for the house of assembly, John Yakubu emphasized.
Supporting Yakubu, another Edo central leader and former PDP governorship aspirant, Engr. Gideon Ikhine, told the party faithful present that Edo Central PDP is one and united for Onolememen, Akhabue, and Osobase for senate and reps respectively, noting that the battle that’s being fought by the National vice chairman of the party, Chief Dan Osi Orbih is a victorious battle for all and harped in the need for everyone to support Chief Orbih to keep the party as one.
Engr. Ikhine began by inviting Onolememen to come to the center of the stage for a proper introduction, poured encomium of the former minister of works, take the audience through the history of how Onolememen ensured that the outgoing senator and others were supported to be in office and insisting that it is the time for Onolememen to be supported as the candidate of the party from Uromi, declaring that it is the turn of Uromi.
Ikhine said: “We cannot allow anyone to bring misunderstanding between Agbazilo and Okpebho, PDP is one, we have only one PDP and we have never lost elections in this zone.
So long we have our candidates we will not vote for other candidates from the presidential to the senate, federal and state assemblies”.
The DG Edo Central later released the names of those appointed as the party campaign council in the 5 LGAs in the zone.
John Yakubu was named DG for Esan north-east, Chuks Obiyan for Esan South-east Tony Okonigene for Esan Central, Igueben, Felix Omi Imoisili, and Esan west has Victor Idakhua its DG.