The governorship aspiration of Asue Ighodalo got a boost on Thursday as the Edo Central Senatorial Caucus endorsed his candidacy ahead of the February 22, 2024 Peoples Democratic Party’s primary election in Edo State.

Already, the party leaders in Edo North led by Mike Oghiadomhe endorsed Ighodalo after a meeting on Monday, which drew the ire of the deputy governor of the state, Philip Shaibu who is also from Edo North and also running for governorship.

Shaibu said by his position, he was the deputy leader of the party in the state and such a meeting could not have taken place in his senatorial zone without him.

He declared the decisions reached at the meeting as null and void and urged his supporters to remain calm as it was clear they were being provoked.

However, Ighodalo, on Tuesday also unified members of the state Working Committee of the PDP.

The unification meeting which had in attendance all members of the Edo State PDP Working Committee, held at the Benin residence of the state PDP Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, for the first time witnessed the coming together of all aggrieved working committee members in the state.

Some of the members at the meeting include state chairman, Dr. Tony Azigbemi, deputy chairman, Harrison Omagbon, State Secretary, Hilary Otsu, Edo Central Vice Chairman, Bishop Anthony Okosun, Ehis Destiny Oreye, Anthony Anenih and Akhere Ogbesia.

The decision to back Ighodalo on Thursday was contained in a press release issued by the Senatorial Caucus on Thursday in Uromi, the headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area of the state, following the official presentation of the Edo Central PDP Special Committee report.

The committee was chaired by the party’s national leader, Chief Tom Ikimi.

According to the statement signed by Archbishop Anthony Okosun, the Senatorial Caucus Chairman and two others, the adoption of Ighodalo is without prejudice to the right of any other aspirant to pursue his/her aspiration for the election.

The statement read: “The Edo Central PDP Caucus met on Thursday, January 11, 2024, in the PDP Senatorial District Secretariat, Uromi.

“The meeting was chaired by the Senatorial Vice Chairman of the party, Archbishop Anthony Okosun in accordance with Section 20(1)(a) of the 2017 PDP Constitution (as amended).

“The caucus, in accordance with its functions as spelt out in Section 20(2), considered the report of the Edo Central PDP Special Committee chaired by the National Leader, Chief Tom Ikimi and the following resolutions were adopted

“The Senatorial Caucus applauded the members of the Special Committee for the diligence and transparency they applied in carrying out their assignment.

“The Senatorial Caucus accepted the recommendation of the Special Committee and adopted Asue Ighodalo as the consensus aspirant of the PDP from Edo Central Senatorial District.

“The Senatorial Caucus noted that the adoption of Asue Ighodalo is without prejudice to the right of any other aspirant to pursue his or her aspiration.

“The Senatorial Caucus mandated the Special Committee to lead Asue Ighodalo and introduce him to all stakeholders in the state as the consensus aspirant of the Edo Central PDP.” (The PUNCH)

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