Immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, has denied insinuations that he is the anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Edo 2024 governorship poll.
He made the denial in an interactive session with journalists in the Conference Room of the Edo NUJ in Benin at the weekend.
He stated that he has not consulted with his family members, friends and party leaders on the issue and as such “nobody can say somebody is an anointed candidate when the criteria has not be spelt out.”
Answering a question on the issue of his being rumoured to be interested in the 2024 gubernatorial poll in Edo State he affirmed: ” I don’t think that we have gotten to the stage of getting a candidate. I don’t think there is any party that has started their primaries.
“In truth I can say to you that a lot of people have been talking to me that they think that I should contest. And have I taken a decision? No, I haven’t because the governorship goes beyond an individual. I have to consult with my family. I have to consult with my friends. I have to consult with the party leadership.
“So, all of these have to be done and if there is a consensus, an agreement that I qualify or the party feels that it is what I should do, why not? The question is that do you think that I have the capacity to? Am I qualified to? Do you have the necessarily experience?”
Going further, he stated: “The party decides to zone or not to zone. I don’t think that we have gotten to that stage. Therefore, no one can say somebody is an anointed candidate when the criteria has not been spelt out.
“I am not ruling out the fact that if the opportunity comes in the future that it may not happen. Currently, I am unemployed. So, I am looking for work.”
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