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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, met with the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Abuja Tuesday night to enlist his support for Asue Ighodalo’s governorship ambition.
Ighodalo, who is the anointed camdidate of Obaseki, is seeking the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 22, 2024 primary election.
The meeting, according to TheCable, took place at Wells Carlton Hotel, Abuja, and was attended by Adamawa State Governor,Ahmadu Fintiri, who came with Obaseki.
Obaseki’s peace moves, it was gathered, were informed by the reality of a strong opposition from Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a former member of the House of Representatives and the preferred candidate of PDP National Vice Chairman (South South) and Wike’s ally in Edo State, Dan Orbih.
There is also the challenge from the incumbent deputy governor, Philip Shaibu,
Although Ighodalo has expressed confidence in winning the party’s ticket, Obaseki’s camp see the situatuon as a delicate one.
At the meeting with Wike, Obaseki was said to have sought “reconciliation” and apologised for previous misunderstanding between them.
Obaseki was said to have told Wike that Ighodalo would be willing to pick Ogbeide-Ihama as his running mate.
But Wike reportedly told him point-blank that he would not have any dealings with him as he is not known to have kept faith with anyone that assisted him in the past.
According to sources, the minister demanded a “level-playing field so that most acceptable candidate will emerge.”
Obaseki fell out with Wike in 2020 shortly after winning his second term in office.
He had defected to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC) after a face-off with Adams Oshiomhole, who decided to back Osagie Ize-Iyamu, formerly of the PDP, in the 2020 governorship election.
In the PDP presidential primary, Obaseki backed Atiku Abubakar against Wike for the ticket.
After Atiku won the presidential primary, Wike led a group of five governors, named G5, to work against the party’s candidate.