In Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate Dr Asue Ighodalo has instructed his opponents to ensure the campaigns in taking over Governor Godwin Obaseki remain issue-based.
The State governorship election campaigns officially starts on Wednesday (today).
Ighodalo made the call in a statement issued by the Asue Ighodalo Media Team in Benin City on Wednesday.
It was reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission, on Monday, released the final list of candidates for the upcoming governorship election in the state.
The list has 17 candidates, 16 of whom are male, while just one female.
On reacting to the commencement of the election campaign Ighodalo instructed other political parties participating in the election and their candidates, in particular, to endeavour to focus on issues, be decorous, and not dwell on inanities.
“I sincerely believe that we are ready for the campaigns as the Independent National Electoral Commission has formally lifted the ban on public campaigns for the September election, beginning from tomorrow, April 24. On our part, we are ready to play by the rules. We will focus on issues. Edolities want to know and hear us talk about what we are bringing to the table to solve the problems of insecurity, poverty, infrastructure, and many more. We will make decorum our watchword.
“Therefore, I want to appeal to all the other political parties, and in particular, their candidates to please let us dwell on issues and not on inanities. We must do everything to avoid campaigns of calumny, character assassination, deliberately peddling falsehood against individuals, and trying to tie and link them to what they know nothing about.
“If we all play by these rules, the atmosphere will be convivial for all of us and thus reduce the possibility of electoral hostilities and violence. We must bear in mind that we are brothers and sisters and all we want is the progress and development of our dear state,” the statement quoted Ighodalo as saying.
“We will be intentional in our campaigns by selling our manifesto to the electorate and persuading them to vote for us. We expect others to do the same. Let’s refrain from attacking individuals, and personalities and stop throwing dirt and mud on people because of their political persuasions.
The governorship candidates and their running mates include; Accord (Iyere Kennedy and Enabulele Bright); Action Alliance (Iseghohi Tom and Onaiwu Nmwen); African Action Congress (Udoh David and Osunde Osas); African Democratic Congress (Izedonmwen Derek and Osagie Philip); Action Democratic Party (Akhimie Kingson and Obazee Ramatu
Others include; All Progressives Congress (Okpebholo Monday and Idahosa Dennis); All Progressives Grand Alliance (Osifo Isaiah and Bello Aneru); Allied Peoples Party (Ugiagbe Sylvester and Εzomo Ede); Action Peoples Party (Areloegbe Osalumese and Oyarenua Paul); Boot Party, (Osiriame Edeipo and Omorogbe Kingsley); Labour Party (Akpata Anthony and Alufohai Faith); New Nigeria People’s Party (Azena Friday and
Isokpan Ihueghian); Peoples Democratic Party (Ighodalo Asuerinme and Ogie Osarodion); Peoples Redemption Party (Key Ndidi and Ojo Advice); Social Democratic Party (Anerua Aliu and Amedu Paul); Young Progressives Party (Okungbowa Ovbokhan and Mustapha Tijani) and Zenith Labour Party (Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena and Idubor Olamilayo).
