There‘ll be no governorship election in Edo State next year; the focus is on the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Aspirants from different political parties have indicated interest in contesting for the House of Representatives seats.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) currently occupies eight out of the nine House of Representatives seats, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has one seat. After the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party (LP) won three seats in the red chamber, but all of them have defected to other political parties. Many of the lawmakers may find it very difficult to return.
In the ruling APC, all appears not to be well, following the resignation of one of its aspirants for Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency seat and former member of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Hon. Johnson Agbonayinma. Government sources said all pleas by Governor Monday Okpebholo to Agbonayinma not to leave the party were rebuffed. Agbonayinma’s resignation, according to some leaders, was a sign of growing discontent within the APC.
Agbonayinma said he resigned from the APC because of disrespect for his leadership of the party in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government. A source said the resignation of Agbonayinma is the beginning of many things to happen within the Edo APC ahead of the general election.
Oredo Federal Constituency
The Labour Party won the Oredo Federal Constituency seat in 2023 with Hon. Eseosa Iyawe as its candidate. Today, Iyawe is in the APC, but there are indications that he might not win the party’s ticket. His opponents are a former Commissioner for Education, Hon. Paddy Iyamu and a former Chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, Osaro Obazee. Obazee has vowed not to step down. His supporters said it was time for politicians who suffered during hard times for the party to enjoy the gains. No serious aspirant has emerged from other political parties.
Ikpoba-Okha/Egor
The ADC representative, Hon. Murphy Osaro Omoruyi, is the incumbent lawmaker representing Ikpoba-Okha/Egor. He was elected to the House of Representatives on the platform of the Labour Party, but followed Peter Obi to defect to the ADC. Omoruyi is seeking re-election on the ADC platform. He said he has remained committed to the core responsibilities of lawmaking and oversight functions since he was elected to the National Assembly.
Another aspirant of the ADC for Egor/ Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency is Hon. Austin Oghomentiti. Oghomentiti served as Deputy Director General of the Asue-Ogie campaign, Egor LGA. He is a businessman.
Aspirants for Ikpoba-Okha/Egor in the APC are a former Council Chairman, Crosby Eribo; a former Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Okpebholo, Pius Alile; and a former member of the board of the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission, Osaze Igbinovia. What further fueled Agbonayinma’s exit from the APC was the endorsement of Igbinovia by leaders of the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government area.
Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency
Hon. Billy Osawaru, representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode, is finding it difficult to convince leaders of the Edo APC in the constituency to support his second-term ticket bid. Edo State representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Patrick Aisowieren, is backing a former Commissioner for Water Resources, Washington Osifo, to replace Osawaru.
The Accord Party aspirant is Mr Godwin Edemakhiota. Edemakhiota has embarked on a tour of communities in both local government areas, where he promised to ensure the prompt delivery of dividends of democracy.
Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency
Hon. Peter Akpatason has been representing Akoko-Edo in the House of Representatives since 2011. He is pushing for another term in office. Immediate past Executive Chairman of Edo Internal Revenue Services (EIRS), Otunba Oladele Bankole-Balogun, has joined the race to represent Akoko-Edo on the platform of the APC. Bankole-Balogun has been contesting for the seat since 2011.
Owan Federal Constituency
Former Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Project Monitoring, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, is seeking a third term in office as the lawmaker representing Owan Federal Constituency. His move is seen as a breach of the unwritten agreement between Owan East and Owan West Local Government Areas that the seat be rotated on a two-term basis. Leaders of APC in Owan West are strongly against Prof. Ihonvbere’s ambition. His opponent is Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, who hails from Owan East.
Etsako Federal Constituency
It is a battle of old rivals for the ticket of the Etsako Federal Constituency.
Chief Richard Lamai has joined the race for the Etsako Federal Constituency on the APC platform. He is seeking to displace incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Sunday Anamero Dekeri. Anamero is seeking a second-term ticket. In 2023, Anamero defeated Lamai to emerge as the candidate of the party.
Esan West/Igueben/Esan Central
Former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobun, is facing stiff opposition to secure a return ticket to the House of Representatives. He was elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but later defected to the All Progressives Congress. He was the only PDP candidate who won the House of Representatives election in 2023. A former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lucky Eseigbe, has declared interest in the race. Eseigbe is speculated to have the blessing of Governor Okpebholo.
Ovia Federal Constituency
Barrister Omosede Igbinedion is the incumbent lawmaker occupying the seat. She was elected last year in a by-election after Dennis Idahosa resigned following the emergence of Okpebholo as Governor. No one has indicated interest in contesting against Igbinedion at the APC primary. No aspirant has also indicated interest from other political parties.
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