Politics

Edo Guber: PDP Leaders Canvass Ogbeide-Ihama As Division Erupts Over Zoning

Published

2 years ago

January 8, 2024

By Elvis John-Agho

A storm is brewing in the top hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over the campaign for zoning of the party’s governorship ticket in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State.

The campaign for the zoning of the ticket to the Edo Central Senatorial Zone which has not completed a four year term appeared to have gained traction last year and partly led Governor Godwin Obaseki to narrow his succession plan to fellow corporate player, Asue Ighodalo who is from Ewohinmi in Edo Central.

The logic was the claim that Edo South has produced two governors in Chief Lucky Igbinedion and the outgoing, Obaseki, while Edo North has produced Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Edo Central on the other hand has produced Senator Osehrienmen Osunbor whose term was, however, cut short after 20 months.

The popular agitation had been to zone the ticket to Central for equity and balance. The campaign may have partly led the outgoing governor, Obaseki to champion corporate player, Asue Ighodalo from Ewohinmi in Edo Central as his successor.

However, the argument for equity and zoning is increasingly being counterbalanced by demographics with the claim that Edo South which has 52% of the population could back another party that produces a candidate from Edo South.

The growing sentiment in Edo South has been fired by a petition from the influential Benin National Congress, BNC which last week complained to the Oba of Benin of the marginalisation of Edo South in political appointments and projects.

That sentiment, it was gathered, is making Edo Central to focus on producing the next governor of the state.

The Nigerian Tribune has meanwhile reported that party leaders who have canvassed their views on zoning among PDP governors and the National Working Committee, NWC say that it would amount to political suicide to sidetrack Edo South to give the ticket to Edo Central which has about 21% of the population.

“It would therefore be suicidal for any party to zone the governorship position to Edo Central given the lopsided voter population and especially when there is no statewide consensus on such an idea,” the newspaper quoted a party source as saying.

Obaseki, it was reported, is lobbying fellow governors that it would be fair to allow him produce his successor, a development that would also address the marginalisation of Edo Central.

However, influential political leaders mostly belonging to the Chief Dan Orbih led Legacy Coalition is believed to have countered that among party leaders on the claim that it would lead to the party losing the election.

According to the Nigerian Tribune, party leaders supportive of a candidate from Edo South are also of the view that zoning may not guarantee fairness, as according to them, the candidate who was prevailed upon to drop his ticket for Obaseki in 2020, who also hails from Edo South, Honourable Ogbeide Ihama should be considered in the forthcoming primaries.

One of the leaders said: “Our fairness, equity, and justice should start from 2020 by rewarding Honourable Ogbeide Ihama, the man who stepped down to enable us to bring in Obaseki as a candidate in 2020.

“What the leaders told him then was that he still had age on his side. Now that he has been elected twice into the House of Representatives from Oredo Constituency, he has shown as someone in tune with the grassroots and should be considered.”

Related Topics:Edo 2024 Ogbeide Ihama PDP

Up Next

APC Releases Timetable For Edo Guber Primary

Don't Miss

No Regrets Making Fubara Governor – Wike

Comments

Politics

PDP Crisis: INEC Rejects Turaki-led NWC

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it will not recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing existing court judgments and unresolved legal processes.

This was as contained in a letter dated December 22, 2025, signed by INEC Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The Commission stated that it could not act on demands to acknowledge or upload on its website the list of national officers said to have been elected at the National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan.

According to INEC, its position was guided by subsisting court decisions and pending litigation relating to the leadership crisis within the PDP.

The electoral body further noted that it would be improper to recognise any factional officers while the matter remains before the courts.

Politics

Govt That Fails To Protect Its Citizens Has No Business Remaining In Office – Kwankwaso

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has accused the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the political will to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso spoke on Tuesday in Kano while unveiling 2,000 operatives of the Kano State Neighbourhood Security Network.

He urged President Tinubu to “rise to the occasion and truly act as the Commander-in-Chief” in addressing banditry and other security challenges.

According to him, Nigeria’s military “remains one of the most gallant in the world,” having served in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Liberia, and other conflict zones.

However, he said the armed forces are not being adequately supported to perform optimally.

“Today, many innocent Nigerians are being killed, while the perpetrators walk freely as if nothing happened. The government must apologise to Nigerians for its laxity in the fight against insecurity,” he said.

Kwankwaso, who once served as Minister of Defence, added: “When I was Defence Minister, I knew the capability of the Nigerian military. They are courageous and professional but need clear direction, support, and political will to do the needful.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s armed forces had historically ranked among the best globally and urged the government to equip them properly to change the current security situation.

Kwankwaso also said that if elected president in 2027, he would recruit over one million additional military personnel to strengthen national security.

“Any government that fails to protect the lives and property of its citizens has failed woefully and has no business remaining in office,” he declared.

He further called on the Federal Government to integrate community-based security initiatives, like the Kano Neighbourhood Security Network, into the national security system to boost morale and improve intelligence-driven operations against criminals.

Politics

ADC Announces Temporary Closure Of Secretariat

Published

2 days ago

December 23, 2025

Editor

The African Democratic Congress, ADC , says it has temporarily closed its National Secretariat as part of the end-of-year break.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said full operations are scheduled to resume in the New Year.

According to the statement, the secretariat will close on December 23, 2025, and reopen on January 5, 2026.

The party, however, said essential skeletal services will remain available throughout the period, while all other official activities at the National Secretariat will be suspended to allow staff and party officials observe the Christmas and New Year holidays.

“This is to inform the public that the African Democratic Congress National Secretariat will close for the year on 23rd December 2025 and will resume full operations on 5th January 2026.

“During this period, only skeletal services will be available, while all other official activities at the Secretariat will be temporarily suspended,” the statement said.

The party thanked its members, partners and supporters for their continued loyalty and cooperation throughout the year, noting that their support remains critical to the growth and stability of the party.

The ADC also said it is committed to its ideals and to democratic engagement as it prepares for activities in the coming year.