By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
As the September 2 Local Government Council Election in the state draws nearer , the Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has set up a 70 man Campaign Council headed by Senator Odion Ugbesia .
While inaugurating the Campaign Council at the new party secretariat on Airport Road, Benin City, State chairman of the party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi said that the sole purpose of the Campaign Council is to deliver all eighteen Local Government Chairmanship candidates, all the 192 Councillorship candidates of the party during the 2nd September Local Government Council election.
According to Aziegbemi, the party also expect that the Campaign Council headed by Senator Odion Ugbesia, “a very prolific and astute politician” will take the message of the party across the nooks and crannies of Edo State to ensure victory for the party in the September 2, 2023 election.
Dr. Aziegbemi while assuring that the party is ready for the election noted that “We are the only party that has a very vigorous and robust congress session to elect our candidates for this election. We are not like other parties who are alleging that our party is going to write result. Governor Godwin Obaseki met with all the party aspirants and also met with all the candidates after the party primaries.”
He pointed out that the party is fully ready for the election and they are going to go to all the nooks and crannies of the 4,519 polling units of the state to take the message of good governance, tell the people the infrastructural development that have been provided by the Governor Godwin Obaseki led PDP administration in the state.
“So, Edo people just wait for us, we are coming to meet with you and tell you what the governor has done, if not in your community, but around your community and what the plans are, going forward for Edo people. So, we have a good story to tell,” he added.
While speaking on behalf of the Campaign Council, the Chairman, Senator Odion Ugbesia said he wholeheartedly accepts the offer and is willing to take the campaigns across all the nooks and crannies of the entire 4,519 polling units in the state.
According Senator Ugbesia, “In the spirit of reconciliation, there is need for everyone to come together towards rebuilding the party, because no sacrifice is too much. If my acceptance as the Chairman of the Campaign Council is one way of rebuilding the process, contributing to the peace process, so be it.”
On the allegation that PDP has already perfected plans to write figures for the September 2, Local Government Election, the Chairman of the Campaign Council, Senator Odion Ugbesia said, “If we plan to write figures, why are we campaigning? If we already know that we are going to write figures, while bother to set up Campaign Council, why bother to move around to campaign?”
Also speaking, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku described the party as a party that is closest to the grassroots and assured that they are ready to go round to tell the people what the governor has done, adding that the party does not believe in rigging.
He commended the chairman of PDP for his steadfastness and holding firm to what he believes in.
The members of the Campaign Council include, Timothy Osadolor, Tony Ikuenobe, the Speaker and Members of Edo State House of Assembly, Arthur Esene, Fidel Igenegbae, Samuel Saiki, Anthony Okosun, Herbeta Okonofua and Uwa Osunbor.
Others are; Joe Okojie, Henry Tenebe, Mike Ehima, Victor Enoghoma, Ken Asekhome, LGA Chairmen, LGA Coordinators, Member House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun and all former members of the National Assembly.