Edo PDP Guber Ticket: Ikimi Screens Esan Aspirants, Demands 'Last Will and Testament'

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By Correspondent

As the race for the September 21, 2024 governorship election approaches, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo Central, lead by Chief Tom Ikimi has carried out a very important assignment to prown down aspirants who Ikimi has considered light weights.

Aspirants Ojezua, Uhomoibhi, Ighodalo and others with pro Gov Obaseki selected Edo Central PDP Members Feasting after the Meeting chaired by Ikimi in his Igueben residence, yesterday January 6, 2024.

At the meeting which held in his residence yesterday, all the aspirants from Edo Central were given the opportunity to honourably step down for Mr Asue Ighodalo, Governor Godwin Obaseki’s preferred aspirant of the PDP.

Some of the aspirants that were present include Hon John Yakubu, Ambassador Uhomoibhi, Mr Asue Ighodalo, Hon Marcus Onobun, Senator Clifford Ordia and Mr Anselm Ojezua.

One of the aspirant told Midwest Herald after the exercise that before the commencement of the screening, Senator Clifford Ordia was the first to step down, followed by Mr Marcus Onobun.

Thereafter, the duo of Hon John Yakubu asked for more time till Wednesday January 10, 2024 for more consultation.

However, Midwest Herald was told by our source that Ojezua expressed his readiness to pick the PDP nomination forms and did not step down at the meeting.

Ojezua in a release he shared with Midwest Herald, said: “On my part, I had earlier informed the meeting that I was continuing my campaign to Edo North tomorrow and Edo South on Tuesday the 9th of January. I further informed them that I will proceed to Abuja to pick up my “Expression of interest” form on Wednesday the 10th.

“Let me assure each and every one of you that I am committed to the objective that we have collectively agreed. I am confident that victory will eventually be ours. God’s will must be done.”

While the Ikimi meeting was ongoing, Midwest Herald a protest from a stakeholder alleging “…the State Treasurer of the People’s Democratic Party, and the immediate past Edo Central Senatorial District’s Chairman, Hon. Benjamin Ehilenbiadiaye and other Legacy Coalition Members have been driven out of the Hon. Aziegbemin’s Masterminded Edo Central Screening Committee holding at Chief Tom. Ikimi house in Igueben, where they want to force a particular State Government anointed aspirant on the people today.

The outcome of the exercise is however raising question from a section of PDP in Edo Central. According to their statement, “…if Esan leaders will be sincere to themselves and prove to Edo people that they mean business ahead of the 2024 election, the only aspirant that needs to be thoroughly screened is Asue Ighodalo.

“Those who have contested elections before and have held various political positions have been screened at the state or local level.

“Only the NWC (National Working Committee) has the PDP constitutional power to screen would-be candidates, and not one kangaroo committee set up be a very hungry puppet in person of ‘Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi’.

“How can Chief Tom Ikimi who have never been screened in any political or party electioneering process be the one to screen who and who?

“Who in that committee is really qualified to screen Sen. Clifford Ordia, Hon. Felix Akhabue a former council boss and former Boss of ALGON, Hon. John Yakubu, etc. This is a joke taken too far.

Godwin Obaseki is playing chess with Esan assumed leadership and Anthony Aziegbemi, will always yield to dance to any drum beat as long as every dance step has a price tag.

So, Chief Tom Ikimi and Co want Edo people to believe that if a particular man who lost his identity long ago, isn’t in the race, Esan doesn’t have other great minds to contest 2024 election?

“Why didn’t they screen Barr. Kenneth Imansuangbon and Engr. Gideon Ikhine during the electioneering process to Edo 2020 guber poll?

“Make una dey play. Screening committee oye eeee, oye eeee.

“Well, this is the last political chess game for most of them, especially Chief Tom Ikimi and Elder Odion Ugbesia.

“Let them play and harvest as much as they can now. I only advise the aspirants not to be too desperate in order not to fall prey to the purported political scam of these men.

“If, in their eyes, you’re not qualified, and in the eyes of the NWC you’re qualified, what will you do?

“This year, many assumptions will be laid to rest. Godwin Obaseki will be powerless and very less important after 2024 election.

“If you allow him to kill your career because of overzealousness, you will cry and roam alone in your political purgatory. The group that calls itself ‘Jesus Army’ wrote.