Asue Ighodalo, the elected governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, has received his Certificate of Return today from the party’s National Working Committee in Abuja.
Following his victory in the recent governorship Primary Election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, Ighodalo was presented with the certificate at a ceremony scheduled to take place in the National Executive Committee Hall at Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, in Abuja at noon.
In a statement released by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunaggba, on Monday, he commended the leaders, critical stakeholders, and party members in Edo State for the peaceful and successful conduct of the primary election. Ologunaggba emphasized the importance of unity within the party and urged all members to work together to ensure victory for the PDP and its candidate in the upcoming election.
Meanwhile, in an interview with journalists, Ighodalo revealed that efforts were underway to reconcile aggrieved party members following the primary election. Deputy Governor Philips Shaibu, who was also a governorship aspirant, held a parallel primary and emerged as a parallel winner. Ologunagba confirmed that the reconciliation process had already begun, acknowledging that elections often come with challenges due to differing views and interests. He emphasized the party’s commitment to working together and reconciling all issues and members in order to secure victory for the PDP in Edo State.
Ighodalo, in a statement issued on Monday, congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, and Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party counterpart, on their respective party’s victories in the governorship primaries. He urged them to join him in focusing on issue-based campaigns leading up to the September 21 governorship election in the state.
“My team and I will continue to campaign to the people of Edo State in a manner that fosters unity rather than division. We will remain focused on the issues that matter to our people, avoiding abuse, ethnic-baiting, and name-calling. We must prioritize the unity of the state we aspire to govern. I, therefore, urge all my fellow candidates to conduct respectful issue-based campaigns,” Ighodalo stated.