Intrigues Begin As Political Realignment Intensifies Ahead Edo Guber Poll

Ahead the Edo state governorship election in September, political alignment and realignment have began in the state in view of the contest for the number one seat.

Incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be locking horns with his arc rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Supporters of the two political gladiators and some of their foes are regrouping, forming cliques, aligning and realigning for the governorship election dubbed, ‘Edo decide’.

These realignment are coming against the backdrop of what was a surprise decision by the two gladiators to dramatically switched party against what it was in 2016.

Obaseki and Ize-Iyamu had battled to secure the governorship ticket of the two major political parties in the country.

Obaseki, formally of the APC took a step to save his seat after he was disqualified from contesting the party’s primary and moved to PDP, formally the party of Ize-Iyamu who has now moved to the APC.

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Pundits say these alignment by the gladiator is one factor that would shape the election which many politicians outside the state may likely use as test-run for their preparedness for the 2023 general elections.

The switch of party by the two actors, have mainly affected the camp of Obaseki who has lose many of his previous ardent supporters who refused to move to his new party.

This is coming against the backdrop of reports that about seven out of the 12 elected Councilors in Oredo LGA, including the Councilor of Governor Obaseki’s Ward 4 had endorsed the governorship candidate of the APC, Ize-Iyamu. The endorsement was party of the realignment game that is ongoing in the state.

They hinged their decision on pressure by the Obaseki camp for them to leave the APC for the PDP.

These also came at a time the State Director-General of Obaseki/Shaibu Movement and Board Member of the Edo State Waste Management Board, Patrick Iyoha and two others had also resigned their appointments from Obaseki’s government.

The two others who resigned their appointments are the Chairman of the Edo State Post Primary Education Board, Pastor Gabriel Oiboh and the first member of the board, Osanyemwere Osawe, following alleged pressure being mounted on them to defect to the PDP.

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Hon. Iyoha in his resignation letter dated 28th of July, 2020, thanked the governor, for giving him the opportunity to serve the Edo people, but stated that his reasons for resignation is personal.

Similarly, the Chairman of the State Post Primary Education Board, Pastor Gabriel Oiboh, in his own resignation letter, also dated 28th July, 2020, stated that he had considered the political happenings in the state as it affects his person, and the pressure to leave the APC, his party to PDP, a party he left since 2009.

He also stated that having prayerfully considered the options available to him, he has decided to remain in the All Progressives Congress.

Meeting Ize-Iyamu to pledge their support to his campaign, the Councillors had said that they resisted pressure to defect to the PDP and joined the army of those who have decided to remain in the APC.

One of the councillor who represents Obaseki’s ward 04, Aisien said that as an elected local lawmaker on the platform of the APC, his loyalty, and that of others in Oredo LG, remain with the party and its governorship candidate for the September poll.

In the same vein, seven out of 10 Councilors in Uhumwode Local Government Council had earlier reportedly pitch tent with Pastor Ize-Iyamu.

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BIGPEN recalls the Chief of Staff to governor Obaseki, Taiwo Akerele, two Commissioners, Hon Paul Ohonbamu, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon Omoua Oni-Okpaku, Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability and several appointees, had earlier resigned their appointments from the Obaseki administration.

It is however too early to predict whether these alignment, realignment and endorsement would translate to actual decision of the people of Edo to elect a new governor comes September 19.