On Saturday, September 24, eligible voters will head to the polls to elect a new governor in Edo State. Outgoing governor Godwin Obaseki is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms the constitution allows.
According to INEC, 17 candidates are vying for the seat, but opinion polls suggest three major contenders: Olumide Akpata, Asue Ighodalo, and Monday Okpebholo. Here’s a breakdown of the candidates and what they’ve promised the Edo people.
Asue Ighodalo, PDP
Asue Ighodalo, a prominent lawyer and economic adviser to former governor Adams Oshiomhole, is the PDP candidate. Thanks to Governor Obaseki’s endorsement, he’s seen as a strong contender. However, this support has sparked concerns that his administration could feel like an Obaseki extension.
Ighodalo’s impressive credentials include a law degree from the University of Ibadan and a master’s from the London School of Economics. He’s a founding partner of Banwo & Ighodalo, one of Nigeria’s top law firms, and has served as chairman of several boards, including Sterling Bank and NESG.
What are his campaign promises to the Edo people?
Ighodalo’s manifesto tagged, “Path to Prosperity for All”, is centred around:
Welfare: Hardship relief, affordable healthcare, quality education and women and youth empowerment.
Economic growth: Increased agricultural production, developing Edo’s creative industry, and supporting “Made-in-Edo” products.
Good governance: Transparency, fiscal responsibility, and e-governance.
Security: Supporting police reforms and adopting technology for law enforcement.
Environmental sustainability: Erosion control, green energy projects, and resilient city planning.
Monday Okpebholo, APC
Senator Monday Okpebholo represents Edo Central in the National Assembly and is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor. His emergence wasn’t smooth—after the party’s primaries, house of representatives members Dennis Idahosa and Sunday Dekeri were also announced as winners. APC party stakeholders eventually confirmed his victory after a supplementary primary. Despite being a senator, concerns about Okpebholo’s public speaking and media engagement have haunted his campaign.
Okpebholo holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
What are his campaign promises?
Senator Okpebhelo has vowed to take Edo to the next level with his “Manifesto of Renewed Hope.” The manifesto contains five cardinal programmes: security, infrastructural development, education, agriculture, and water provision.
During a campaign visit to the United States, the governorship candidate addressed Edo indigenes in the diaspora, emphasising his plans if elected.
“I promise to rejuvenate Edo security and bring up massive infrastructure to advance the economic development of the state and open it up for foreign investments, affordable healthcare, water, food security, value-driven education, while not leaving behind tourism and the creative industry.
“I remain committed to liberating Edo from stagnation. The manifesto of Renewed Hope for Edo people will give life to Edo Diaspora Agency which will boost the participation and engagement of Edo State indigenes resident abroad.”
Olumide Akpata, LP
Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Olumide Akpata is the candidate for the Labour Party (LP). Known for his remarkable legal career, Akpata was the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to lead the NBA. In August 2023, he stepped down as a senior partner at Templars, a prominent Nigerian law firm, to focus fully on his political ambitions. He said the decision was born from a desire to “contribute towards the critical task of nation-building”.
In February 2024, he defeated other candidates to clinch LP’s governorship ticket.
While Akpata hopes to capitalise on Peter Obi’s support from Edo State during the 2023 presidential election, his main challenge is Obaseki, who hails from the same senatorial district and has thrown his full support behind PDP’s Ighodalo.
What are his campaign promises?
Akpata’s manifesto, tagged “My Pact With The People of Edo State,” features eight focus areas highlighting his plans to revitalize Edo’s economy through industrialisation, create an enabling environment for businesses, and promote sustainable development. Here’s a summary:
Economy and job creation: Focus on revenue growth and responsible fiscal management, drive industrialisation, and create an enabling business environment.
Roads and infrastructure: Develop a masterplan to upgrade major roads for economic growth, build flyovers and bridges in key cities, partner with the Federal Government to rehabilitate federal roads and upgrade urban roads with street lighting, traffic lights, and lanes for pedestrians and cyclists
Electricity and energy access: Promote renewable energy sources like biomass, solar, hydro, and wind, attract private sector investment for power projects, partner with Benin Electricity Distribution Company to improve power supply and mobilise funds from multilateral development banks and investors to support energy projects.
Agriculture and food security: Establish community-based grain reserves, attract investments in agro-processing plants in all senatorial districts, develop export value chains for crops like oil palm, cassava, and rubber, and provide farmers with loans, machinery hire services and equipment for better productivity.
Education: Upgrade schools and recruit more teachers; ensure inclusive education for persons living with disabilities; develop model schools and skills incubators; revive Ambrose Alli University and other tertiary institutions.
Healthcare: Set up primary healthcare centres (PHC) in all 192 wards in Edo, train and retrain healthcare workers, establish emergency and ambulance services across the state and expand the Edo Health Insurance Scheme, including free coverage for people with disabilities.
Security: Increase funding for security infrastructure, improve welfare for security personnel, ensure better coordination among security agencies, and promote community engagement in maintaining law and order.
Other essential infrastructure: Invest in digital technology infrastructure, improve access to water resources and implement erosion and flood control measures.
Other candidates in the Edo governorship race
Uwaifo Osaro — Action Alliance (AA)
Aner Aliu — Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Azena Azemhe Friday — New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Osifo Isiah — All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
Ugiagbe Sylvester — All People Movement (APM)
Areleogbe Osalumese — All Peoples Party (APP)
Akhime Afere — Action Democratic Party (ADP)
Udoh David — African Action Congress (AAC)
Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena — Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
Osirame Edeipo — Boot Party (BP)
Iyere Kennedy — Accord Party (AP)
Obazele Agbone — African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Key Ndidi — Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
Okungbowa Ovbokhan — Young Progressive Party (YPP)
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