Asue Ighodalo, a boardroom guru, has emerged as the firm favourite to clinch the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket ahead of the governorship election in Edo State later this year.
Ighodalo, 64, is a former Nigeria Breweries Plc and Sterling Bank Plc chairman. He was also a board member of a food production company, Okomu Oil.
A lawyer by training, he is the co-founder of the elite law firm, Banwo & Ighodalo.
Backed by incumbent governor Godwin Obaseki, Ighodalo has gotten the support of major PDP stakeholders in the south-south state.
Earlier today, the Edo Central senatorial district caucus of the PDP adopted Ighodalo as its sole aspirant ahead of the 22 February 2024 governorship primary election.
“The Senatorial Caucus applauded the members of the Special Committee for the diligence and transparency they applied in carrying out their assignment.
“The Senatorial Caucus accepted the recommendation of the Special Committee and adopted Barr. Asue Ighodalo as the consensus aspirant of the PDP from Edo Central Senatorial District.
“The Senatorial Caucus noted that the adoption of Barr. Asue Ighodalo is without prejudice to the right of any other aspirant to pursue his or her aspiration.
“The Senatorial Caucus mandated the Special Committee to lead Barr. Asue Ighodalo and introduce him to all stakeholders in the state as the consensus aspirant of the Edo Central PDP,” a statement from the party leaders read.
The decision to adopt Ighodalo was reached at the caucus meeting held on Thursday in Uromi, Esan North-East local government area of the state, following the official presentation of the Edo Central PDP special committee report, chaired by the party’s national leader, Tom Ikimi.
Similarly, PDP leaders in Edo North senatorial district have also endorsed the candidacy of Ighodalo.
Ighodalo was adopted by the leaders and party executives from the six local government areas in the senatorial district.
Dockaysworld also gathered that some aspirants have stepped down for Ighodalo, including a former senator, a serving House of Reps member and a two-time local government chairman.
Meanwhile, a support group known as Obaseki Finishing Well Group has pledged its support for Ighodalo.
The group said Ighodalo was the right person to take over from Governor Obaseki and urged the party to give him the ticket.
“Ighodalo is a prominent Nigerian lawyer who will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to bear.
“His role as the Chairman of Sterling Bank, Chairman of Nigerian Breweries, Director of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, and Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group underscores his deep commitment to driving progress and development,” the group said.
