We must remain mindful of our political experiences to chart a roadmap for our collective future effectively. Consequently, if there is an intervention one believes hasn’t read concerning the just concluded Edo State gubernatorial primaries, this is it.
We have always been fascinated by our op-eds about the connection between the concept of rhizomatic thinking, pluralism and perspectivism championed by philosophers like Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche.
These scholars embraced a diversity of perspectives by rejecting rigid, linear and binary structures. Applying this perspective in journalism means countless ways of seeing and understanding issues, each offering valuable insights. Through this, we can cultivate a richer and more inclusive understanding of themes around us.
This ultimately allows us to nourish our curiosity, creativity, interrogation and understanding of the complexities of issues. On this basis, I choose to appraise the gubernatorial primaries through my peculiar lenses. Last week, the All Progressive Congress, APC, conducted their primary(direct) under the chairmanship of Governor Hope Uzodinma, which produced Hon. Dennis Idahosa.
Most of the aspirants protested against the result, and the repercussions of their protestations, some taken too far, reached Mr. President. The Commander-in-Chief was discomforted by the shabbily conducted primaries and ordered a new one using the National Working Committee, replacing Governor Hope with Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State.
Senator Monday Okpebholo emerged as the winner, garnering 12,433 votes. Meanwhile, on the 22nd, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, smoothly held its primary(indirect) in Benin City, where Asue Ighodalo Esq emerged as the contest winner after some aspirants voluntarily withdrew from the contest.
Just yesterday, 23rd February, the Labour Party, LP, held its primary(indirect) and Olumide Osiagbovo Akpata Esq, the erstwhile Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, chairman, emerged as the winner of the contest with 316 votes as against others with single digits votes in what was known beforehand to be a one-way traffic nomination.
With these nominations, the equilibrium and initial political calculations have been altered. We must, thus, remain conscious of our political experiences, as I mentioned in the opening parts of this piece. Indeed, when you step into politics, that which cannot be silenced must be said.
Not surprisingly, conversations along tribal voting lines have been rife with the emergence of these significant candidates. In the past 24 hours, there have been alignments and realignments. First, the emergence of Senator Okpebholo from Edo Central Senatorial District has altered the political calculation for Asue Ighodalo in the district, which has about 16% voting strength of the entire state.
The sitting senator will undoubtedly divide the votes there, as the electorates I have spoken with are divided between both candidates. Although Edo North, with a voting strength of about 30%, is a known stronghold of APC, it might not necessarily be so now that Senator Oshiomole has been humiliated by having his preferred candidate, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, disconnected from the race.
Most of his supporters are unhappy with the recent turn of events, and it will take a high-profile reconciliation to make the former governor work for Senator Okpebholo.
The PDP and LP can use this crack to make incursions into the district with high campaign strategies. Second, and perhaps most importantly, Edo South Senatorial District is the primary battleground with 58% voting strength, according to the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, during the last voter’s registration.
Here, Olumide Akpata and Asue Ighodalo have almost the same support base – young, organic, disenchanted, angry and upwardly- mobile voters. One issue that would shape their overall performance would be their choice of running mates, especially Ighodalo.
If Ighodalo – who would be 65 in July – were to opt for a young running mate from Edo South, his chances would be brighter, as opposed to his opting for someone in his age bracket, as this inevitably alienates the bulk of the so-called ‘youth O’clock’ support base.
Consequently, Ighodalo’s fate might be determined, for the most part, by his choice of running mate. A critical factor in this regard is the necessity of picking a running mate not from the Edo establishment/administration to give the public that sense of independence and the needed injection of fresh ideas. On the same token, Ighodalo must strive to select the said young running mate from the old PDP bloc, not necessarily to break their ranks, but for the joint ticket to reflect all the optics – the ticket will reflect the diverse tendencies within the PDP.
This will provide ample manoeuvring space for genuine reconciliation, as the old PDP folks already feel marginalized. As for Olu Akpata, who is from Edo South, his chances are bright as he has the potential to be a disruptor of sorts. He is a wealthy corporate attorney and is set to run a massive campaign against the APC and PDP.
Given his national name recognition as a former President of NBA, he is likely to dominate the metropolitan areas of Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba Okha and the urban parts of Ovia North East, Uhunmwonde and Orhionmwon if he can re-awaken the Obidient Movement that drove the last presidential election in Edo State.
I do not see that magic easily replicated, as most voters within the party were disenchanted by the presidential election’s outcome. Given the foregoing, the PDP will need to do a lot more work if it is serious about preventing Olu Akpata from garnering majority votes in the municipal parts of Edo South.
The PDP would also need to do a lot of work to win majority votes in the 2 Federal Constituencies controlled by the APC in Edo South – Ovia and Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituencies.
The party must make deliberate inroads to these two battlegrounds to win the election – there is no room for complacency. Similarly, it is essential to note that Senator Okpebholo is not a new entrant in Edo politics. He has a lot of local followership through his interactions with the late Chief Tony Anenih, who was his mentor before his demise.
Also, construction mogul Bishop Matthew Akhaze Okpebholo, the owner of Ray Royal Construction Nigeria Limited, a household name in Edo State, is a renowned philanthropist of international repute. The Preacher-Billionaire is an uncle to the Edo central Senator, though he is known to be a non-partisan and apolitical Bishop of the Church of God Mission International Incorporated. There is a possibility that the billionaire will throw his thick financial muscle behind him for the election.
The senator, who is said to be very close to many of the eggheads of the PDP and with some family bonds, will also have the backing of those in the corridors of power at the national level because APC is hell-bent on taking Edo State back.
Regarding the current state of play, during the build-up to the primary, Asue Ighodalo, reportedly having a net worth of more than $30 million, was the hardest working of all aspirants. He has transversed all the length and breadth of the state, meeting with ordinary people. He was also on live television programs, often accentuating issues confidently.
Olumide Akpata, although he is not a homeboy, his emergence seems to resonate with a large section of the youth and some electorates from Edo South who seem to be unpredictable in their voting pattern.
The September election will undoubtedly be the most interesting in the annals of our history. It will offer a lot of intrigues; there will be power-play, ethnic reliance and dominance, financial inducement and more that have never been seen before in the history of our politics in Edo State. The jury is still out.
©Truth Live News
