Ighodalo to Receive Certificate of Return as PDP Governorship Candidate in Edo

The governorship candidate-elect of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, is scheduled to receive his Certificate of Return today (Tuesday) from the party’s National Working Committee in Abuja.

According to a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunaggba, on Monday, Ighodalo will receive his certificate at a ceremony scheduled to take place in the National Executive Committee Hall at Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, in Abuja at noon.

“The national leadership of the PDP commends all leaders, critical stakeholders, and members of our party in Edo State for the peaceful and successful conduct of our governorship primary election in the state

“The NWC charges all members to be guided by the above-stated date and time and continue to work together to ensure victory for our party and candidate in the forthcoming election,” Ologunagba said.

Meanwhile, in an interview, he disclosed that efforts had commenced to reconcile aggrieved party members following the conduct of the governorship primary.

Edo State Deputy Governor, Philips Shaibu, who was also a governorship aspirant, held a parallel primary where he emerged a parallel winner.

However, the APC national leadership is only recognizing Ighodalo.

Ologunagba stated on Monday that reconciliation efforts had started

“Election generally is a very emotional thing and it comes with challenges. And you expect all these because people have different views and interests.

“The capacity of the party to reconcile all issues and members is what makes it a better party. We adhere to that. Reconciliation is an ongoing process and is not a 100-meter dash. It is a marathon. And we doing that already at different levels.

“Reconciliation in Edo, that I can tell you has started in earnest. And we recognised the need to work together as a party to win in Edo State. Not just because of our party, but because of the people and the challenges in Nigeria today.”

Ighodalo extended congratulations to the winners of the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his Labour Party counterpart, Olumide Akpata, on their victories.

In a statement on Monday, Ighodalo urged them to join him in a commitment to focus on issue-based campaigns ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state

“My team and I will continue to campaign to the people of Edo State in a language and behaviour that seeks to unite rather than divide. We will stay focused on the issues that matter to our people; and there will be no descent into abuse, ethnic-baiting and name-calling.

“We must not destroy the unity of the state we seek to govern. I therefore urge all my fellow candidates to similarly run respectful issue-based campaigns,” Ighodalo said.

Kanyi Daily recalls that Asue Ighodalo, former Chairman of Nigeria Breweries Plc, asserts himself the most qualified candidate to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki.