Earlier today, January 15, 2020, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu confirmed speculations and joined the legion of aspirants jostling to contest the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.
The subtle declaration was made at a press conference, where he led other aspirants and some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress Congress, APC.
Other aspirants that were present includes Gen Charles Airhiavbere, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Part of the text of their address delivered by Odubu, read thus thus: “We the APC aspirants for Edo State 2020 gubernatorial election in consultation with other critical stakeholders state unequivocally that we wholeheartedly welcome the urgent intervention of the newly constituted Senator Ahmed Lawan’s reconciliation Committee for the party.
“Indeed, we are prepared with our memoranda for presentation to the committee and we urge every genuine stakeholder of the party to cooperate with the committee. We collectively desire a party that is stable, virile and viable for us to realize our individual and collective aspirations so as to provide effective, efficient and productive leadership for our dear state.
“We also believe and quite rightly too, that the attempt to close the political space and shut the doors against potential contestants for the office of the Governor of Edo State by the incumbent governor is antithetical to the established norms of democracy.
“We must all be allowed to subject ourselves to the democratic process without let or hindrance.”
Today’s event confirms the speculations that the former deputy governor may have rekindled his interest to fight for the APC ticket, especially with the uncertainty that has trailed his nomination for the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
It will be recall that Mr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu came distance second in 2016, behind the incumbent Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki in a very rancorous APC primaries that fertilized the aspiration of Ize-Iyamu who was the candidate of People’s Democratic Party, PDP.