The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, has congratulated his All-Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) counterparts, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Olumide Akpata on their emergence as standard bearers of their parties.
He urged them to join him in a commitment to focus on issues-based campaigns ahead of the 2023 governorship election.
Ighodalo restated his firm belief that Edo’s strength was the unity of her people and appealed to all candidates to refrain from campaigning with messages that promote division and disunity.
“The February 2023 general elections saw a level of hate and vitriol masked as political sloganeering that took this nation to the brink and the fires politicians lit back then continued to smoulder across the nation.
“I and my team will continue to campaign to the people of Edo state in language and behaviour that seek to unite rather than divide. We will stay focused on the issues that matter to our people.
“There will be no descent into abuse, ethnic-baiting, and name-calling. We must not destroy the unity of the state we seek to govern. I therefore urge all my fellow candidates to similarly run respectful issues-based campaigns,” he said.
Ighodalo, who expressed concern over the level of economic hardship people were going through, stated that he and his team of young professionals and politicians have identified a pathway to the lifting of millions of citizens into prosperity.
“We intend to open up the state by reducing insecurity, and by securing the financing and attracting the private sector investors needed to build our intrastate roads.
“I, working with my team, will grow the economy of the state, create jobs, and provide a better life for our people,” he added.
Meanwhile, the PDP has said that it will present a Certificate of Return to Ighodalo, who won last Thursday’s gubernatorial election.
According to a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the presentation ceremony will take place at the National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall, Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat in Abuja at 12 noon.
Ologunagba said this comes following the successful completion of the Edo state governorship primary election and the ratification of the exercise by the appeal panel.
However, the statement remained silent on the fate of the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, who reportedly emerged as a candidate in a parallel primary held on the same day.
The presentation of the Certificate of Return to Ighodalo signifies a significant milestone for the PDP as it prepares for the upcoming gubernatorial election in Edo state.
Ologunagba said that the national leadership of the PDP commended all leaders, critical stakeholders and members of the party in Edo state for the peaceful and successful conduct of the poll.
Chuks Okocha and Adibe Emenyonu
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