Thousands of leaders, members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State on Tuesday trooped out in solidarity march for the candidacy of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the governorship standard bearer for the September 21, 2024 election and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie.
Members and leaders of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Management Council, including its Director-General, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen; PDP chieftain, John Yakubu; the campaign council’s Deputy Director, Media and Publicity, Rev. Olu Martins; and Edo Speaker Blessing Agbebaku among others, led the march through the city centre, Ring Road, chanting solidarity songs, amid drumming and dancing.
The rally led to gridlock for many hours in adjoining streets to Ring Road, including the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin.
One of the organisers of the march, Austin Osakue, claimed that last week’s judgment of on PDP’s primary election that produced Ighodalo as the governorship candidate of the party, was a kangaroo judgment that would not stand, while calling on Edo people to remain committed and vote for the party and Ighodalo on September 21.
Osakue said: “Do not be distracted, we will not surrender, we will not retreat, we will not be dissuaded by their lies. My message is that to win an election, you must cast votes. As we know Ighodalo, that is how we know Ogie, a man of humility. When a man is humble, even God will fetch firewood for him.
“Ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, nobody can intimidate us. If they like, let them be carrying court judgment around.
“There is nothing in the judgment of the FHC, Abuja. Instead of them to be campaigning, they are celebrating court judgment. They cannot even campaign, because their candidate is a liability. With our voter cards, we will punish them in Edo State on September 21.”
Ighodalo, who was accompanied by his running mate and other chieftains of PDP in Edo, while also speaking during the march, noted the time had come for the happiness of members of the party in the state to continue.
He said: “The time has come for us to have more work, the time has come for us to have more money in our pockets, and by the grace of God, by September 21, when you would have voted for me and Ogie, more upward movement will come.
“I want you to remain strong. I want you to remain happy. Do not be afraid of anything. God is in control. Everybody should get their PVCs ready, so that by September 21, we will vote for PDP to ensure that the votes are counted, and we will follow the votes to the collation centres, until we are announced the winner and the state will continue to prosper.”
Ighodalo also admonished supporters and members of PDP in Edo to remain calm and continue to campaign in their units, wards, local governments and the state, in order to ensure victory, and for him to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki on November 12.
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