The search for a respectable, formidable, and capable candidate to represent the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election is about to begin. Prominent party members from all around the state are competing.

President Bola Tinubu as the national leader of APC will have a huge say in who picks the ticket. Also expected to play a major role are former Governors John Odigie-Oyegun, Adams Oshiomhole, state chairman of the party, Col. David Imuse (rtd), former Deputy Governors Lucky Imasuen, Pius Odubu, former Secretary to the State Government and a top leader of the party in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, National Women Leader of the party, Dr. Mary Alile, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), senatorial leaders and all stakeholders in the state.

The right to vote and be voted for is a fundamental one provided the individual satisfies all electoral requirements. It is in view of this that everyone who is qualified electorally can aspire to any position in a party.

Still, the quantity of candidates expressing interest in the position is increasing daily. In the face of a formidable opposition, this might make the party weaker. As of last week, there were twenty-five candidates vying for a ticket. Because Governor Godwin Obaseki’s replacement must come from his party, it should be noted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government has pledged to hold onto power in the state. All well-meaning APC members ought to counsel the candidates for governorship to avoid feeding the opposition’s agenda. There will only be one winner in the end, and those who don’t get their way might not give up easily. The danger is right here.

It will be in the interest of the APC to democratically prevail on the many aspirants to step down for the one who is most popular among them and also well known to the electorate. From all indication, Oshiomhole and Ize-Iyamu are in the prime position of winning the governorship election for the party. Of a truth, PDP has failed to deliver dividends of democracy to the people who are ready with their voters cards to vote out the party.

As things stand now, it is safe to assume that the APC will win the forthcoming governorship election if a strong candidate, barring the unforeseen acts of back stabbing, backbiting and sabotage. APC should tread with caution. Its paramount interest now should be the onerous task of liberating the state from the seeming imprisonment of its citizenry by political gladiators who would not let go of power. The last local government election which was characterised by open manipulation is enough lesson for the APC faithful. Ordinarily, a party that has performed creditably need not panic that another election is around the corner. But the contrary is the case for the PDP administration in the state because of its poor report card. The APC should therefore wake up early to look inwards and avoid those things likely to cause internal squabbles and dissension. All green horns without electoral experience should step down for men with huge followership. It is only the presentation of a formidable candidate, no matter where he comes from, that can effectively deal with the kind of opposition on the ground. Fielding an unpopular candidate is the beginning of failure. The party should come up with a consensus candidate that can stand on his own and give the opponents a run for their money. Many have been given political appointments to mobilise and galvanise support from their respective grassroots for the election. Indeed, the state government has started brainwashing the electorate, most of whom are uneducated, illiterate, ignorant and inarticulate. Democracy is a game of numbers and the electorate can be bamboozled and easily manipulated by the use of state resources because of the level of poverty and hunger in the land.

Energy should not be dissipated on extraneous things like ego, blame game and other diversionary issues. Let it be clear that Ize-Iyamu, the candidate in the last two governorship elections, did not lose but was a victim of power play between two dramatic personnel. He had and still has the vision as contained in his political manifesto; well thought out, printed and distributed to the people who not only embraced it but massively voted for it, but intrigues and power play robbed the good people of the state of the desiderata. Soon, Odigie-Oyegun, Oshiomhole and other leaders would invite Ize-Iyamu to the race. The electorate already know what they have missed and are ready to give the PDP an empty calabash and welcome their real choice from the APC for the state house this time around. All green horns should appreciate the fact that the battle ahead is enormous and drum support for Ize-Iyamu, if he gets the ticket.

Edo 2024 election should be taken seriously even at the APC national level because winning the state, known as the heartbeat of the nation, is of paramount importance to the party. It is also a task that must be done. Let me remind Oshiomhole and other party leaders of the saying of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo: “No permanent friend and no permanent enemy in politics.”

One of Nigeria’s famous musicians, Sunny Okosun sang a song which goes like this: “Africa is now or never, we must have it or lose it forever…” So, for this coming governorship election, APC should bear in mind that Edo State is now or never, we must win it or lose it forever.

On October 27, a former minority whip in the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie, at a seminar in Benin said: “The party should ensure that aspirants jostling for the governorship ticket are properly screened to ensure that only credible aspirants with clean moral and academic records are cleared to participate in the party primaries. Aspirants with doubtful credentials or criminal allegations or conviction either in Nigeria or abroad should endeavour to withdraw from the race. The party cannot afford to take the risk of participating in an election with a candidate who the opponents will pull the rug from under his feet by unveiling his or her previous tainted records.

“The party should immediately make its position known on the vexed issue of zoning for the party to begin to build a consensus around a possible candidate and the district. Already, the party in power has given an indication of where candidate its candidate is likely to come from and a consensus is being built around the candidate although not without opposition from within the party.”

Osagie added: “Against the backdrop of some of the factors that have militated against APC, it is crucial to note that winning the 2024 governorship election in Edo State is a categorical imperative for the sustenance of the confidence of the party followership and the integrity of the leadership of the party.

“Truth be told, it is not going to be a walk in the park as the government in power in Edo State has already begun its time-tested strategies of hoodwinking Edo voters through monetary inducement routed via appointments and other perks.”

Wanted: A consensus Edo APC candidate

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