Asue Ighodalo, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, expressed his appreciation towards party leaders and stakeholders for their sincere input on finding solutions to the internal challenges facing the party before the upcoming September 21 election in the state.
During a meeting in Benin with party leaders from Akoko Edo, Ighodalo urged them to persist in resolving all internal crises within the party, emphasizing that the PDP is the sole party capable of salvaging the nation.
Highlighting the importance of unity, Ighodalo stated, “I commend the party leaders for their candid assessments and recommendations on resolving the party’s internal issues.
He further urged the leaders to remain proactive, citing the presence of competent members who possess the necessary vision, focus, and patriotism to rejuvenate Nigeria.
Pointing out the resilience of the PDP compared to other parties, Ighodalo remarked, “The PDP remains the only party since 1999 that is still standing, while other parties have since either collapsed, fragmented or become an amalgamation of strange, odd and unhealthy bedfellows. A contraption of complicated forced union.”
He emphasized the necessity for the party to unite and strategize to overcome the All Progressives Congress, which he deemed as a hindrance to Nigeria’s progress.
Based on verifiable data, Ighodalo asserted that the PDP leads other parties significantly, and revealed that the campaign structure for the governorship would be unveiled shortly
He advocated for fair representation of all interest groups, including women, youths, and even the ‘Obidient’ Movement in the party’s campaign framework.
In his introductory statements, Olu Fashanu, the leader of the group, lauded Governor Godwin Obaseki for selecting Marvellous Omobayo, a local government area resident, as the new deputy governor of the state.
Fashanu mentioned that the assembly of intellectual leaders aimed to engage productively with Ighodalo to secure complete electoral triumph in the election, noting the party’s strong political structure and the supportive electorate in the area.
He added, “These goodwill and opportunities necessitate the need to proactively build and develop strong campaign teams with experienced political leadership at ward levels in Akoko-Edo and beyond. This will neutralise voters’ intimidation being orchestrated by the so-called ‘Federal Might’.”