Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the leading candidate in the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election, hosted a delegation from the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS at his campaign office.
The meeting, held yesterday, was initiated by the EU to engage with Ighodalo, his running mate Bar Ogie Osarodion, and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders.
The EU delegation’s visit was part of a pre-election assessment to evaluate the readiness for the election scheduled for September 21st.
The delegates emphasized their mission to “gain a sense of how the preparations are coming along” and to identify any issues that might require the attention of international partners to ensure a violence-free election and to plan their deployment.
In his remarks, Dr. Ighodalo expressed his gratitude to the EU delegation for their visit and reassured them that the PDP is fully prepared for the upcoming election. He highlighted that his party has been running issue-based campaigns in strict adherence to the guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ighodalo also took the opportunity to call on INEC and security forces to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. He stressed the importance of a fair and transparent electoral process, which he believes is essential for the elections to truly reflect the will of the Edo people.
As the election date approaches, the visit by the EU delegation underscores the international community’s interest in a peaceful and credible electoral process in Edo State. Dr. Ighodalo’s commitment to lawful campaigning and his call for fairness resonate with the broader objectives of ensuring democratic integrity in the region.