EDO SOUTH DID NOT ENDORSE OGBEIDE-IHAMA
By Joseph Chukwu
Contrary to the fake endorsement speculations going round some media outlets, the members of All Progressives Congress, APC from Edo South have denied endorsing Ogbeide Ihama as deputy governorship candidate. And the Edo South Senatorial Caucus Leader, H.E Pius Egberanmwen Odubu, a former deputy governor of Edo State have no knowledge of the fake endorsement.
Since the emergence of Senator Monday Okpevbolo from Edo Central as the governorship candidate of the APC, it became crystal clear that the deputy governorship candidate was going to be chosen from Edo South senatorial district if the party is to have any chance at winning the governorship of Edo state.
Sources close to the party informed Cross Fire that a few top contenders for the position emerged immediately from Edo South. Prominent among them were Osaro Obazee, a former chairman of Oredo local government area and Hon. E J Agbonayinma. Others included Aisoriewen, and even the wife of Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu who is a professor of Dentistry was also mentioned.
However, Hon Agbonyinma was gaining ascendancy because of his vast experience. He was a former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, a former member House of representatives, former board member of Nigeria Railway Corporation and now member of Code of Conduct Bureau. When many thought the battle was between Agbonyinma and Obazee , a surprise candidate emerged
Like a bolt from the blues, Ogbeide Ihama was suddenly tauted as the possible deputy governorship candidate. Strangely till date Ogbeide Ihama is not a member of the APC. He is a member of the factional group of People’s Democratic Party, PDP and a governorship aspirant in a faction of PDP in Edo state. But having lost out from the power play within PDP in the state he is scheming from elevated power quarters in Abuja to be imposed as deputy governorship candidate in APC in Edo state.
Knowledgeable sources reveal that the minister of the federal capital territory,FCT , Nyesom Wike is the one pushing the candidacy of Ogbeide Ihama. But how he is going to outsmart Adams Oshiomhole who parades as APC leader in Edo state is yet to be seen.
Some members of APC in Edo state expressed disgust at the thought of imposing Ogbeide Ihama on APC in Edo state. They will fail, Osayande Ugie angrily told this media organization.
In short, he disclosed that some members of APC in the state are putting up a solid legal team together to drag APC to court if Ogbeide Ihama emerges. We have contacted a veteran journalist and lawyer, Osa Director Esq to be on stand by in assembling a legal team to take APC in Edo state to court if they put the wrong foot forward
From happenings within the political circles in Edo state it appears the two leading parties, APC and PDP may end up not fielding candidates in the coming governorship election as they will spend considerable time in the court room.