By Simon Ebegbelem

THE men in Edo South as APC, PDP and other parties battle for the votes of over 1.4 million voters across the state, tomorrow, Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the APC have deployed their   political foot soldiers to the 18 Local Councils of the state to ensure victory for the party’s governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki. 

Ize-Iyamu and Obasek

In his 2012 re-election, Oshiomhole won in the entire 18 Local Councils and he is expecting to repeat the feat for Obaseki following the vigorous campaigns he and his party members have carried out in the past few months.

In Edo South, which has the highest number of voters in the state with seven Local Government Areas, the electoral battle is expected to be fiercest in Egor, Ikpoba Okahi and Oredo.

APC will be prosecuting the electoral war with a number of strong men. In Egor for instance, the APC has  veteran politician, Gentleman Amegor and Crosby Eribo, who is representing the area in the House of Assembly. It also has former Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen; Goddy Edosa, the current commissioner for Justice in the state, Henry Idahagbon and Nosa Idele Ogbeide, to deliver this area for the APC.

In Ikpoba Okhai, the APC is parading Osarodion Ogie, the director general of the Godwin Obaseki Campaign organization.  Apart from Ogie, there are also former Edo State representatives in the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Henry Okwuarobo, Chief Noma Ogbomo, Mrs Irabor, Mike Irabor and Dr Mike Okhomina.

In Oredo, the APC candidate, Obaseki, is the leading foot soldier.

The ruling party also boasts of some dogged leaders such as Lawrence Orkar, Chief of Staff to Governor Oshiomhole; Patrick Obahiagbon, Rasaq Bello Osagie, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, Prince Eweka, Osakpanwa Eriyo, Tony Kabaka, Chief Osamede Adun (Bob Izua), Samson Abu, Sunny Aguebor, Chris Okaeben and Osaigbovo Iyoha.

Former leaders of the party

The PDP is not helped in Oredo by the fact that some of the former leaders of the party including Samson Esemuede, Denis Evbuomwan, Dr Ebima Ogbeide, Mrs Glamour Agbebor, Tony Alile have joined the APC to back Obaseki.

In Orhiomwon and Uhunmwonde, the APC has the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Pius Odubu, leading the battle. He is to supported by Saturday Ewulekwe, Matthew Ehigie, Patrick Aisowiere (a member of the House of Representatives), Nosa Okunbor, Dr Chris Ogienwonyi and Prof. Amadasun.

Incidentally, Orhiomwon is where the candidate of the PDP, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu hails from. The stage will be set between him and Deputy Governor  Odubu. While in Uhumwonde, the Political Adviser to the governor, Charles Idahosa, former House of Representatives member, Samson Osagie will lead the onslaught against the PDP.

For Ovia North East and South West, Mrs Lucy Omagbon, Elder Sunny Uyigie, Engr Evbuowan, Harrison Omagbon, chairman of the state Oil and Gas Commission, Vincent Uwadia, Prince Aghedo, Chief Ogbomo, Sunday Aghedo, are expected to check the PDP soldiers in the area.

Edo North combatants

Edo North is Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s domain. Oshiomhole and the governorship running mate of the APC, Philip Shuaibu are both from Etsako, which has three local councils and is the largest clan in the senatorial district.

Apart from the influence of Governor Oshiomhole, Senator Francis Alimekhena, Dr. Simon Imuekheme, John Akhigbe, Prince Malik Afegbua and Gani Audu are among those who will fight for APC here. The return of  Usman Shagadi to the  APC is expected to boost the chances of the ruling party. He is expected to galvanize support for APC.

In Owan West and East, APC has political heavy weights like  Deputy Majority Whip of the House of Representatives, Pally Iraise; Secretary to the Edo State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; former Deputy Governor of the state, Rev. Peter Obadan; Joe Aisien, Omo Ezomo, Frank Ilaboya, Macdonald Obasuki and, Johnson Abulagba among others.

Akoko Edo parades leaders  like Senator Domingo Obende, House of Representatives member, Peter Akpatason, Bisi Idaomi and Jemitola Aenena.

APC war horses in Edo Central

In Edo Central, the state APC Chairman, Anslem Ojezua, Mr. Oyibo, Theo Okoh, Francis Inegbeneki, Prince Joe Okojie, Frank Okiye, Peter Esele, former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Thomas Okosun and Victor Eboigbe, are on ground to lead the APC’s quest for votes in an area where the PDP has in the past been very strong.

Tomorrow’s election will be an interesting one as APC leaders are committing themselves to deliver having tasked themselves in the past two months for funds to execute the governorship election in their various wards.

APC enjoyed dominance in Edo South and North senatorial districts since the coming of Oshiomhole. That dominance was, however, reversed during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Interestingly, the three major candidates, Obaseki of the APC, Ize-Iyamu of the PDP and Osaro Onaiwu of APGA are all from the South senatorial district and it will be interesting to know how the Bini will vote this time.

Edo South enjoys the largest population with seven Local Governments, Edo North six Local Governments while Central has five.

Edo South is expected to be the battle field in this election and whoever picks majority of the votes here is expected to emerge winner of the election.