Asue Ighodalo, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming offseason election coming up September 21 in Edo, southern state, Nigeria, pledges to anchor his administration around women and youth.
PDP is the ruling party in the state and Ighodalo enjoys full support of the incumbent, Governor Godwin Obaseki, at the expense of his deputy, Phillip Shuaibu, with whom he has become estranged over political difference.
Shuaibu is however in court challenging Ighodalo’s emergence as the party’s choice of candidate, insisting that the primaries actually produced him.
But forging ahead, the party candidate, Ighodalo sees the possibility of turning the state’s fortune around.
He made this assertion when he held his first stakeholder consultation with the youths after he was officially given his Certificate of Return as the Candidate of the Party on Wednesday.
Ighodalo, in his address to the youths, said, “To the youths, it’s our time. By the grace of God and the will of the people of Edo State, we will run a government upheld by youths and with youths.
“Together, we will turn Edo into a state that everyone will be proud of and I will show leadership and direction.
“Our youths have promised that they won’t fail. We will show the rest of the world what we can achieve together as a people.
“We can become a first-world sovereign in Africa. I have seen the path and together, with your support and collaboration, we will achieve this.”
Ighodalo also stressed the importance of women in his government, pointing out that, they too will be a focal point of his administration.
He acknowledged the significant role women play in society and expressed his commitment to ensuring their active participation and representation.
The stakeholder consultation with the young people of the PDP marks a significant step in Ighodalo’s campaign, showcasing his dedication to inclusive governance and youth empowerment in Edo State, say some political watchers.