Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State met with Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in Abuja, Tuesday night, to secure his support for Asue Ighodalo’s governorship bid in the unfolding contest for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State.
Reacting to the meeting, Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said if it was true, there was nothing wrong in the attempt to carry everybody along.
The meeting took place at Wells Carlton Hotel, Abuja, and was attended by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, who came with Obaseki.
Obaseki’s peace move was necessitated by the reality of a strong opposition from Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a former member of the House of Representatives and the preferred candidate of Dan Orbih, Wike’s key ally in Edo State.
Ighodalo is seeking the governorship ticket of the PDP in Edo State in the February 22, 2024, primary election. There is also the challenge from Philip Shaibu, the current deputy governor.
Although Ighodalo has expressed confidence in winning the party’s ticket, going into the primaries against Ogbeide-Ihama and Shaibu is viewed in Obaseki’s camp as a delicate game.
At the meeting with Wike, Obaseki was said to have sought “reconciliation” and apologised for previous misunderstanding between them.
Ighodalo would be willing to pick Ogbeide-Ihama as his running mate, according to the deal offered by Obaseki.
Wike reportedly told him point-blank that he would not have any dealings with him as he was not known to have kept faith with anyone that assisted him in the past.
Hence, Wike demanded a “level-playing field so that most acceptable candidate can win,”sources said.
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Nehikhare, who reacted to the development, said: “The governor had exco meeting with us through zoom today. Then we signed up an agreement for concessioning and he was there physically at noon.
“So ,I don’t know whether the governor was in town or out of town, so I cannot confirm nor deny the meeting but on the other hand, if he is doing everything to carry everybody along, I think it is a good thing.”
