As the race for Edo 2024 governorship election continues to gather steam, and as political watchers are regaled daily with unfolding events in the state chapters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), developments in the Labour Party suggests the party is gearing up to make the upcoming election a closely contested three-horse race.
Aside from its swelling list of governorship aspirants, bigwigs in the state have kept crossing over to join the party, the latest being former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata. Among the prominent governorship aspirants on the Labour Party platform are Kenneth Imasuagbon, Ogbemudia Bassey Osagie, Pastor Azemhe Azena, and Dorry Okojie, among others.
A party official told The Guardian that with its array of aspirants, the stage is getting set for a fierce battle for the governorship.
Speaking at a recent rally to rally support for the party’s candidate in the upcoming local council elections in the state, LP’s Presidential candidate in the last general election, Peter Obi said the battle for the elections at the grassroots is a litmus test for the aspirants to prove their worth by engaging in the contest to win their local councils for the party.
According to Obi, the grassroots, being the local council areas, is key for development. And taking over at that level, is one step ahead preparatory for the takeover of Edo state in the 2024 gubernatorial contest.
Imasuagbon who hails from Edo Central Senatorial district, precisely Ewohinmi in Igueben Local Council Area, has over the past 20 years been actively involved in the politics of the state.
Imasuagbon, popularly known as “Rice Man,” is famous for his annual free rice distribution during the yuletide to the poor and needy across the 192 wards and 18 local councils in Edo.
Imasuagbon, who is not new to the political terrain owing to his over two decades of political sojourn and philanthropy, has remained committed to the people through his various empowerment programmes targeted at improving the lives of indigent children, youths, artisans, students and including widows and orphans.
Having engaged in several political activities across his former party affiliation before pitching tent with the Labour Party, his many years of philanthropy and preparation for the governorship position might endear him to the electorates and put him ahead of others in the governorship race.
Another contender, Ogbemudia Bassey Osagie, who is a trained security expert, said that as a security person, he is going to deploy his wealth of experience to assist the law enforcement agencies combat crime and criminality in the state, as there cannot be meaningful development where crimes thrive. This is besides the lofty initiatives he also intends to implement as governor.
Speaking on the capacity of the governorship aspirant to emerge winner at the forthcoming polls, Chief Reuben Aizenabor, the Protem Chairman of the Ogbemudia Osagie Campaign Organisation, said that the aspirant has the youthfulness, charisma, doggedness and a noticeable shared love between him and the Edo people, which would boost his chances of winning the Labour Party primary and the general governorship poll.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed disappointment that most of the aspirants in LP are not known to the electorates.
Another resident, who identified himself simply as Osamu from Edo South Senatorial District, decried a situation in Edo, where some aspirants stumble into politics from nowhere, thinking the Labour Party is a platform for them to ply their trade.
He said he was surprised to see clergymen, Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), businessmen and real estate magnate based in Lagos, all returning home simply because it is time for politics.
He added that these ‘emergency politicians,’ after many years of sojourn outside Edo state, woke up one morning to contest for the governorship ticket of Labour Party.
He said most of them were not known even in their wards, or local government areas and talkless of the three senatorial districts that make up the entire state.
While many observers are keenly watching as the list of governorship aspirants of the Labour Party soars, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, (SAN) joined the party.
Akpata
Feelers have it that Akpata, who hails from Edo State, believes he can join hands with other good people to change the narrative in the state, and is optimistic of the party sweeping the state during the councils election and the state gubernatorial contest billed for next year.
Speaking on his passion and new found love for politics despite a very successful legal career and what the forthcoming local councils election in his home state holds for the people, he said, “We are not going to wallow in the presumptions that things must be done in a certain way. The right thing must be done. We are confident. The people are ready and they will not accept anything less than transparency.
“I am a Nigerian who is interested in what our nations looks like. I am interested in the betterment of our country. The only way you can express whatever is required to improve the nation is by joining a party. I have chosen the Labour Party. There is no other option,” Akpata said.
Speaking on the Labour Party’s commitment to its mandate, the LP state chairman, Kelly Ogbaloi, told The Guardian that the party would continue to open its doors to all, insisting that all aspirants would go through the party primary and fulfill all requirements to emerge as its governorship flagbearer.
Ogbaloi equally disclosed that all its aspirants for the governorship were Nigerians and Edo people with proven character and integrity, just as he pointed out that the Akpata was a card carrying member and is yet to officially declare as an aspirant for the forthcoming governorship election.
