How Oshiomhole, Igbinedion, Ikimi, Imasuagbon, Odubu, Shuaibu, Urhogide, others will impact Edo gov poll 19th September 2020

Ahead of  the Edo governorship election coming up today, there has been a lot of tension, and anxiety, not only among the key gladiators, and  other stakeholders but generally among Nigerians on how the exercise will go. However, while  Edo people are expected to turn out in their large numbers to exercise their franchise ,some prominent Edo indigenes have expressed  support for candidates of their choice, and here is  a run  up on  how  they can influence the poll.

Although the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole is not  a  candidate in the poll, but his name has continued to feature prominently ahead of the election. Oshiomhole, a former governor of the state took Nigerians, especially Edo people by surprise when  he endorsed Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a man he had once  publicly castigated during the run-up to the 2016 election. He had been engaged  in a running political battle with Governor Godwin Obaseki who had earlier been considered to be  his political associate, and ally. The political disagreement between him, and the governor eventually cost him his job as the national chairman of the APC.

It is generally believed that whoever emerges victorious today between Obaseki, and Ize-Iyamu will have his victory largely attributed to the role played by  Oshiomhole. Many people in Edo state  however are  having a feeling that Oshiomhole is trying to impose  a governor on the state by  openly campaigning  for Ize-Iyamu. They see him  as trying to play the role of a godfather who is trying to carve a political empire in Edo state. His rejection of Obaseki is even  a major reason why many in Edo are supporting the governor.

His critics claim  that they were shocked that a man who devoted much of his energy to fight godfatherism can suddenly  make a  u-turn by trying to  foist himself as the new godfather of Edo politics. However, his combative political style notwithstanding, Oshiomhole still remains a strong  force  to be reckoned with in Edo politics even though he still has several political foes who are eager to send him to political oblivion.

Oshiomhole’s political machinery still remains very strong across the 18 local government areas of the state, and many of his loyalists ,are still solidly behind him. Not only that,  these supporters are  working actively for  Ize-Iyamu. Oshiomhole is also a leader with a strong home base in his Etsako West local government area where he  is well loved and adored by the people. He may swing votes in his local government in favour of his preferred candidate.

The  Igbinedion family has also been noted for playing critical roles in governorship elections in Edo state. The patriarch of the family ,and the Esama of Benin, Sir Gabriel Igbinedion   has been involved since 1999 when he first helped to install his son Lucky as the state governor. The duo later  joined forces in helping Oshiomhole to  become  the state governor in 2008. They  however later parted ways with Oshiomhole, and declared their support for Ize-Iyamu in 2016 but their efforts  did not make much impact as Ize-Iyamu who was  then the  PDP candidate didn’t win the election.

Ahead of today’s election, there were initial concerns about who the family will back for the poll, but the initial doubts were doused when the Esama, Lucky Igbinedion and Omosede, his daughter, declared support for Obaseki. Not only that, the Esama, and  his son actively campaigned for Obaseki. The two were reported  to have played prominent roles in the defection of Obaseki from the APC to the PDP. Political analysts are of the view  that Obaseki may win Ovia north-east local government area where the Igbinedions hail from because of the considerable support he enjoys from the family.

Another force to reckon with is Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo state. Hitherto regarded as Oshiomhole’s godson before the two parted ways over irreconcilable differences, Shuaibu  since his defection to PDP with Obaseki has made the party more popular in Etsako West Local Government area where he hails from.

Considered  to be a grassroots man, many  believe that it is a result of the  party leaders’ belief in his ability to deliver that compelled  the PDP  leadership to  allow him to run with Obaseki after they both defected from APC  to the party.

The former majority leader in the Edo state house of assembly  has been very consistent during the campaigns that no man should attempt to play God in Edo politics, a clear reference to his political mentor ,Oshiomhole  who he further said can’t determine the political fortunes of Edo people. There is no doubt that he will play  a crucial role in  PDP’s hope of winning the crucial Etsako west local government votes. Many  are of the opinion  that Chief Tom Ikimi has  in a way  come to fill in the leadership vacuum created by the death  of  Chief Tony Anenih, former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP.

Although not seen  as being influential like Anenih, but Ikimi the Oduma of Igueben  and former national chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), is seen as a strong political force among the Esan people. In him, they believe they   have an elder statesman, who  can not only fight for the political interests of  his people  but can also represent their interests very well.  Known to be very strong in Edo Central zone, PDP will be putting hopes on Ikimi  with his political influence and clout to win Igueben local government area  for the party.