Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has declared the upcoming September 21 governorship election as a “do or die” affair, urging voters to support the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo. Speaking at the grand finale of the PDP campaign in Oredo Local Government Area, Obaseki stressed the importance of electing leaders with integrity and educational qualifications.
“This election is a do or die. Do you want insecurity? Do you want people that didn’t go to school to lead us? Next Saturday is the election, and you will vote for PDP, making our next governor Asue Ighodalo,” Obaseki declared.
The governor criticized his predecessor, accusing him of disrespecting Edo people and promoting unethical practices, including prostitution and human trafficking. This statement comes shortly after Obaseki refused to sign a peace accord that was endorsed by 17 other political parties, raising further concerns about the political climate ahead of the election.
Obaseki expressed frustration over recent developments, claiming that the police force, under the influence of federal authorities, has detained 10 PDP members without valid reasons, including a local government chairman. He described this as a coordinated effort to undermine the PDP’s campaign, citing similar tensions during the 2020 elections.
“We may not sign this peace accord. This is the first time we are witnessing the entity responsible for peace actively creating chaos,” Obaseki remarked, alleging that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is leveraging federal power to influence the election’s outcome.
Despite his concerns, Obaseki highlighted his administration’s achievements, including job creation, improved security, and better treatment of pensioners. He contrasted the state’s progress under his leadership with the challenges faced when he assumed office.
Earlier in the event, Obaseki also received a high-profile APC delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, which included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and several APC governors and lawmakers.
