The PDP candidate, Bar Asue Ighodalo, is all set to dominate the Edo North senatorial district with his campaign team.
Leading all opinion polls, he is strategically touring the district to engage with key political stakeholders and consolidate their support for the upcoming election.
Hot on the heels of the successful town hall meeting in Edo South, the PDP candidate, Ighodalo is now gearing up for the Edo North tour, which will kick off on August 1st and cover all 64 political wards across the six local government areas of the senatorial district.
Joined by his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, the candidate will hold crucial meetings with Edo North leaders and opinion makers, while also uniting PDP leaders in the district to present a formidable front for the election.
The Edo North district tour is partly aimed at neutralizing the strong influence of former governor and current senator representing the district, Adams Oshiomole.
Before Oshiomole’s time, the district was under PDP control. It later fell into the hands of the former comrade governor, who was then in the ACN, with allegations that former governor Lucky Igbinedion played a part in this shift due to the prevailing intra-party politics at the time.
Governor Obaseki’s attempts to break down the Oshiomole structure have faced significant challenges, but during his second term, he succeeded in demystifying the Oshiomole influence in Akoko Edo and Owan West. The two local governments gave the PDP substantial votes in 2020 and again in the 2023 state assembly election.
The PDP secured three assembly seats in Owan West and two in Akoko Edo, while the APC received fewer seats.
The PDP candidate has the potential to gain significant support in the Edo North district for the upcoming governorship election by strategically implementing his policies.
Ighodalo, a former member of the Oshiomole economic management team, has influential support within the Oshiomole political family.
Some of them prefer to back him discreetly to avoid risking their reputation and political future.
Moreover, former political allies of Oshiomole have shifted their support to the PDP and are prepared to offer their expertise to Ighodalo’s team.
Also, Sen Monday Okpevbolo, the APC gubernatorial candidate, is perceived as having little influence in the Edo North district. If Ighodalo can swiftly expand his influence in the district, he stands a good chance of securing a substantial number of votes in the election.
The sense of marginalization in the Owan and Akoko Edo axis is also a significant factor in the election. The Etsako axis holds considerable political sway, seemingly overshadowing the Owan and Akoko Edo regions. However, the combined votes in the Owan and Akoko Edo regions exceed those of the three local government areas in Etsako.
Therefore, if the PDP candidate strategizes effectively, he can outmanoeuvre Oshiomole in the Edo North district and claim victory.