By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Simeon Ebegbulem

While the incumbent, Adams Oshiomhole and Charles Airhiavbere, the main challenger, are regarded as the main contenders in tomorrow’s gubernatorial election, it would also be an opportunity for many entrenched political warhorses to settle old scores. There are expected to be pitched battles spread around the Heartbeat State.

It is not difficult to see why many have reverted to  ethnic considerations ahead of tomorrow’s landmark gubernatorial election in Edo State.  With a voting population of an estimated 1.6 million, the Binis with an estimated voting strength of 58% of the total population could turn the tide were the people to vote as a bloc.

Remarkably, the Bini vote is restricted to only the Edo South Senatorial district. The second major ethnic division in the state comprise the Afemais in Edo North Senatorial District including Etsako (12 %), Owan, (7%) and Akoko Edo (6%).
The third senatorial district is Edo Central populated by the Esans who comprise about 17% of the total population of the state.

Given the ethnic configuration of the state it was not difficult for the political leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to incline themselves towards selecting a Bini man as the party’s nominee. Charles Ahiavbere, a former Army General who emerged as the party’s choice did so against the aspiration of some more other politically embedded rivals.

Among them were Ken Immasuagbon, famously known as the Rice Man, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere a former Presidential Adviser and Mathew Iduoriyekenwen, a former Commissioner on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. Remarkably, the choice of a Bini man by the PDP did not significantly alter the permutations on ground.

The incumbent, Adams Oshiomhole who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN had almost sufficiently covered the grounds in Bini land before the emergence of the PDP candidate. His developmental strides including roads rehabilitation and reconstruction sufficiently endeared the Binis.  It was as such not surprising that many Benin chiefs including some with direct links to the palace openly flaunted their support for Oshiomhole.

After some initial confusion as to the stance of the revered palace of the Oba of Benin, the palace on April 19 formally endorsed Oshiomhole’s aspiration for a second term on the basis of what a senior palace chief claimed as “one good turn deserves another.”

Gov.Oshinmhole and Gen. Airhiavbare

“We will not reward evil with good. The only way to thank you for what you have done is through our votes. Whoever wants to contest this election should come and say what he has done,” the Iyase of Bini Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe said on that day when Oshiomhole visited the Oba.

Confirming what the Iyase said, Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin said: “You want to go into battle, you will return safely. Whatever the Oba has to say, he has said so many times. Some of us have spoken on behalf of the monarch several times. The Oba speaks through the Iyase and the palace chiefs.

“Adams Oshiomhole is the Bini candidate. He is the one who wants Benin-City to join other modern cities in the country, so he is our candidate. Some people said the palace is playing politics. What is politics? The Oba himself is an embodiment of politics.”

Despite the inclinations of the palace, Airhiavbere, himself from a prominent Benin family did not give up.
The PDP’s response was to describe what happened in the Oba’s palace as a media fantasy as the party insisted that the Oba being the father of all could not have endorsed the ACN candidate.

“Unfortunately, the endorsement was a creation of the media, the revered Oba of Benin didn’t, at any time, say that he had endorsed Oshiomhole as the gubernatorial candidate,” Senator Odion Ugbesia, Director General of the Airhavbere Campaign Organisation responded during a press conference shortly after.

Burdened with the negative image of its past efforts in government in the state and allegations of an autocratic party leadership, it was not surprising that many PDP stalwarts left the party. Many of the dissenters abandoned the party for the ACN alleging that the erstwhile Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, BOT, Chief Anthony Anenih refused to take alternative views.

Many of those who left would be on the frontline against their former party tomorrow. Remarkably, the party in the last minute was able to rein in some of the leaders who were thought of as good as gone. Among those who have been kept back are Immasuagbon and Iduoriyekenwen who had expressed disgust over the conduct of the gubernatorial primaries.

EDO SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT
Oshiomhole is expected to vote in Iyanomo village tomorrow, but his eyes would be on what would be going on in Benin even before he returns.  He would be depending on a number of trusted associates to counter the forces of the PDP in Benin.

Among his major forces would be his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu – the Deputy Governor and Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate. Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Director General of the Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation and erstwhile Secretary to the State Government during the Igbinedion years. Senator Ehigie Uzamere; Senator Uzamere is the first Senator from the district to be re-elected into the senate.

Senator Uzamere is presently the highest ranking elected political officer from Benin. He is marshalling the forces against Airhiavbere who is incidentally his nephew being that the PDP’s candidate’s mother is Uzamere’s blood sister.

Elder Sunny Uyigue; Elder Uyigue was once a close ally of Chief Anenih but fell out with him few years ago over allegations of Esan ascendancy over the Binis in the party. Uyigue remained in the PDP for some time leading a parallel faction of the party before formally abandoning the party for the ACN.

Other battalion commanders for the Oshiomhole army in Edo South include: Charles Idahosa, Samson Osagie, Goddy Edosa, Chief Osamede Adun (Bob Izua), Harrison Omagbon, Mrs Lucy Omagbon, Uyi Igbe, Amos Osunbor, Osarodion Ogie, Jude Ise Idehen, Elizabeth Edonwadagbon, Lawrence Okah, Presley Idiagbonya, Engr Isaac Osahon, Vincent Uwadia, Isaiah Osifo, Joseph Omorotionwan

PDP
The PDP machine in Bini land is being marshaled by some of the major political old horses in Bini land. Though many of them have in the past had issues to deal with Anenih, some of them came back to mend forces with him in order to deal with the common enemy they saw in Oshomiohle.

Among them are Lucky Imasuen a former deputy governor of the state during the Osehreinmen Osunbor years. Imasuen with his former boss fought against Anenih’s hold of the PDP who in turn reportedly sided with Oshiomhole in the court battle that eventually saw to the exit of Osunbor and Imasuen from office. But now, party loyalty has compelled Imasuen to join forces with the Anenih troops in the battle tomorrow.

Senator Rowland Owie: He was one of the leaders of the PDP in Edo State and represented the party in the senate where he rose to the position of Senate Chief Whip. He, however, left the party and sojourned outside before joining the ACN. He was one of the founders of the party at the national and state levels. He reportedly exited the party on the allegation that those evils that drove him away from the PDP had crept fully into the ACN in Edo State.

Matthew Urhoghide: Matthew Urhoghide who is the party’s Publicity Secretary was a former gubernatorial aspirant of the party who left the PDP reportedly because of the godfather and went to the ACN. He, however, felt shortchanged after reportedly being denied the ACN senatorial ticket by the ‘godfather’ in ACN in 2011 and thus returned to the PDP. Urhoghide has wide mass appeal in Benin and would be a major factor.

Captain Hosa Okunbor: A former leader and financier of the ACN in Edo State he last week returned to the PDP alleging that the Binis were being cheated out of reckoning. Okunbor’s strength is in his wealth and philanthropic gestures which would count for the PDP if he comes out wholly against the ACN.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Jega

There are, however, suggestions that his declaration for the PDP was compelled by business interest in Abuja. That claim is supported by suggestions that he could not in reality go against Oshiomhole his friend.

Chief Gabriel Igbinedion: Igbinedion it was alleged had turned his back on the PDP because of Anenih, but he in the last days of the campaign made a remarkable reconciliation with Anenih. He has now charged his followers in the two Ovia Local Government Areas not to disgrace him. A number of them could heed him given his immense influence in the region.

Other front men of the PDP in the South Senatorial District include Owere Dickson-Imasogie, Godwin Abbe, a former Minister of Defence and Internal Affairs, Clement Edo-Osagie, Chief Emmanuel Igiebor, Levis Aigbogun, Douglas Usoh, Dr Oni Edigin, Amb.Emmanuel Imohe and Arisco Osemwengie

EDO CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT

ACN
The contest in Edo Central Senatorial district would be marshaled for the ACN by some of its leading strongmen. Among them are the national leader of the ACN and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi an old political rival of Chief Anenih.

Others include the state chairman of the ACN, Thomas Okosun, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Festus Ebea, Tony Omoaghe, Frank Erewele, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, Gabriel Oyibo, Victor Eboigbe and Theophilus Okoh.

PDP
The PDP forces would be marshaled by Chief Anenih himself ably supported by his lieutenants including Senator Ugbesia, a member of the House of Representatives, Patrick Ikhariale, Hon. Friday Itulah, Kenneth Imasuagbon, Felix Akhabue (Joefel) and Dr Anthony Aziegbemi. Others include Chief Tom Anuge, Herbettar Okonofua, Vincent Ogun, Francis Olifon , Col David Imuse and Okharedia Ihimekpen

EDO NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT

ACN
In Edo North Oshiomhole with his eyes on what is happening in Edo South and Edo Central would leave the attack to his lieutenants including Senator Domingo Obende, Chief Francis Alimekhena, Pally Iriase, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere who has already promised a N 1million bounty for victory in each ward in his local government area, Rev Peter Obadan a former Deputy Governor of the State, Peter Akpatason, Abubakar Momoh among others.

Ihonvbere will be saddled with the responsibility of checking Johnson Abulagba the PDP deputy governorship candidate in ward 6, Owan West while Pally Iriase will checkmate Senator Yisa Braimoh in Owan East.

PDP
The PDP attack understandably would be led by Chief Dan Orbih the state chairman of the party coordinating with others with vested interests in seeking the downfall of the homeboy, Oshiomhole.

Among those coordinating with Orbih would be the Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Chief Mike Oghiadohme who is desperate to send  a message to Abuja that he is no push over at home, the PDP gubernatorial running mate, Johnson Abulagba, former member of the House of Representatives and commissioner in the Oshiomhole cabinet, Dr. Tunde Lakoju who has an axe to grind, Senator Yisa Braimoh, former State Assembly Speaker, Zakawanu Garuba, former House Leader, Tunde Akogun and former House member, Abass Braimah.

Indeed, the two Tundes, Akogun and Lakoju would be leading a difficult PDP attack against an entrenched frenzy for Oshiomhole in his home ground.