Members of the All Progressive Congress, APC, have promised to vote for Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election.
A member of the integrity group within the opposition APC, Emmanuel Odigie, said on Wednesday that substantial members of the party had pledged to vote for Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, on account of their competence and preparedness to deliver good governance.
Odigie claimed that removing the names of President Bola Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike would not benefit the APC in the Edo election.
Odigie, who was suspended by the APC for suspected anti-party activities, endorsed the PDP candidate during an interview on Arise TV on Wednesday.
He said, “From Ighodalo’s antecedent, his manifesto, ‘The Pathway to Prosperity for All’, and if you go through the document, you will see that Ighodalo has a clear vision for the Edo people. He understands the terrain; he has been playing an advisory role since the days of Adams Oshiomhole to date.
“He is a very experienced man who grew his law firm to one of the biggest in Africa with over 100 employees. He was raised by a father who was a chartered accountant and a mother who became the first female Permanent Secretary in Nigeria, and he is a happily married man with integrity.
“Even his deputy, Osarodion Ogie, a lawyer and renowned administrator, has been in government for years and understands the nitty-gritty of governance. His admirers call him “Water has no enemy,” and he has more friends in the APC than even in the PDP. I have not come across one leader in the APC who has not sworn to me in private that Asue and Ogie have their votes due to their competence.
“You can see how well they were received when they both came out in a rally after the phoney judgement nullifying the PDP primary. This shows clearly that the fear of Asue and Ogie is the beginning of wisdom.”