Joel Osaigbovo Aluge Reporting
The Secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) located at Airport Road in Benin City was filled to capacity Wednesday morning as party leaders, stakeholders and members of PDP across the 18 local government areas of Edo State gathered for the official declaration of Barr (Dr) Asue Ighodalo of his aspiration to contest for the 2024 governorship election in the state.
Ighodalo, a former Chairman of Sterling Bank and a frontline governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP, has been tipped by many close watchers of political developments in Edo State as having what it takes to win the PDP primary election in the state billed for 22 February.
While billboards announcing Asue Ighodalo’s governorship aspiration have occupied strategic points across Benin City and beyond in the past weeks, Wednesday’s event marked his official declaration of his interest to run for the 21 September governorship election in the state and the flag-off of his campaign for the February primary election.
Several support groups ranging from market women associations, women support groups, youth groups, drivers and tricycle unions, labour unions, and so on were also present to witness the momentous occasion.
Notable among the groups are the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Tricycle Union (ANNEWATT), Drivers Welfare Scheme, Rational Entertainers for Asue (REFA), Afemai Coalition, Oredo Youth Assembly, Etsako Central Solidarity Movement, Benin Culture Troops, Auchi Youth for Good Governance, among others.
Women selling drinks and other edibles took advantage of the crowded environment to sell their wares amid a heavy traffic in the ever-busy Airport Road.
Security agencies, from the police to DSS, Edo State Security Network and others were on ground to forestall breakdown of law and order; medical ambulances were also on ground just in case of emergency, while EDSTMA operatives were handy to control traffic.