No fewer than 10 politicians are battling for the Edo South Senatorial ticket in APC and opposition PDP. Special Correspondent, TITUS OISE, takes a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirants.
Edo South Senatorial District, comprising the Bini-speaking area, is the largest of all the zones in the state with seven local government areas. Aspirants jostling for the seat currently occupied by Senator Ehigie Uzamere are mainly from the two major political parties in the state, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Those considered by analysts as serious contenders on the side of PDP are immediate past Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Matthew Urhoghide; two-time Chairman of Uhunwonde Local Government Area, Isaiah Osifo; former chairman, Oredo Local Government Area, Edos Ebomoyi; former House of Representatives member, Ehiogie West-Idahosa; and Senator Uzamere.
Aspirants on the side of the APC are the Minority Whip in the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie; Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Patrick Obahiagbon; House of Representatives member, Jim Adun; and former director of THISDAY Newspapers, Erhabor Emokpae, the latest entrant in the race.
PDP Turks on parade
Urhoghide is a pharmacist and a personality with visible political structures in the state, especially in the district. He is considered a major contender, especially as majority of the party leaders and supporters are said to be rooting for him. This would not be his first time of angling for the upper lawmaking house. In the last dispensation, Urhoghide lost out in the primaries, when he was in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), to Uzamere. He later left the emerging APC for the PDP, even as Oshiomhole had reportedly pleaded with him to stay. A section of PDP leadership is said to be favourably disposed to the candidature of Urhoghide, who reportedly has strong followership in the district. It is even speculated that he may receive sympathy votes from his former party (APC), owing to the way he was schemed out of the party’s primaries in 2011.
Uzamere, who represents Edo South Senatorial district in the Senate, is doing his second term. His second term ticket was made possible by the governor, who personally went round to campaign for him to ensure his victory on the ticket of the defunct ACN, now APC. Surprisingly, Uzamere later dumped the party for the PDP. When he returned to the PDP, he was said to be interested in the governorship, but indications have emerged that he wants to return to the Senate. There are, however, doubts of his making it to the Senate.
Osifo was at a time, Chief of Staff to former Governor Oserheimen Osunbor. This former APC chieftain is largely known for his grassroots politics. There are also indications that he may rely on the political structures he built when he wielded power as Chief of Staff. It is, however, believed in many quarters that he does not have the financial muscle to prosecute the senatorial project.
Ebomoyi, popularly called ‘Edos’ by his admirers was chairman of Oredo, the biggest local government council in Edo South. If party loyalty counts in the senatorial race, then Ebomoyi is the aspirant to beat because he has always been with the PDP since inception in 1998 and has never left the party for another.
West-Idahosa, three-time member of House of Representatives, is seen as an inconsistent aspirant because of the rate at which he switches from one party to another. He had, at a time, left PDP for the APC, and just recently returned to the PDP. His culture of inconsistency, it has been argued, may work against him when the chips are down. Also, PDP leadership, sources say, is determined not to gamble with its chances in the state this time around by giving its tickets to new-comers to avoid the sort of crisis experienced in APC.
Battle for APC ticket
Osagie is seen as one of the most vibrant Edo legislators in the National Assembly. He kicked off the campaign for the senatorial ticket, shortly after Uzamere dumped the party for PDP. He is seen as a grassroots politician that is loved by both the party leaders and supporters because of his uncommon humility. He is also considered very accessible. Pundits, however, believe that his number of years in the House of Assembly and House of Representatives may work against him. He spent eight years each both in the state Assembly and the House of Representatives, totalling 16. Quite a number of party supporters believe this is the time for him to quit the stage. Until the entrance of Obahiagbon into the race, Osagie had been seen as the man to beat for the APC ticket.
Obahiagbon spent two terms in Edo House of Assembly before he was elected into the House of Representatives in 2007. He later joined the defunct ACN but failed to return to the house. He was defeated by Razak Bello-Osagie, who is representing Oredo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. Many of his political associates believe Obahiagbon has learnt his lessons from the shock defeat. They believe that he has been working with community leaders and youth bodies with a view to marketing him to his constituents. Nigerians still recall Obahiagbon’s exploits in the House of Representatives when he represented Oredo between 2007 and 2011.
Adun is presently representing Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. His sudden interest in the Senate came as a surprise to many party supporters who have always accused him of poor performance. They allege, particularly, that he is hardly heard in the National Assembly and wonder why he wants to go to the Senate. This apprehension, our reporter gathered, may work against the aspirant.
Emokpae, who is seen as a ‘greenhorn’ in Edo politics, incidentally, appears well connected with the grassroots. He has over two decades experience working in the private sector, including THISDAY Newspapers. He has assured of, “ensuring the empowerment of the people of the district through a robust legislation in wealth creation through federal presence”, he thinks that “a man has not really lived until he makes life better for his people”.
This philosophy has further endeared him to the people in his senatorial district despite what his opponents see as his late entry. Critics insist that Emokpae may not be able to make much impact as a result of his late entry, but the advertising guru believes he is the man to beat.
