PDP Leaders, Members March En Masse for Ighodalo

Thousands of leaders, members, and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State gathered on Tuesday for a solidarity march in support of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the party’s governorship candidate for the September 21, 2024 election, and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie.

Leading the march were 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 of Media and Publicity, Rev. Olu Martins; and Edo Speaker Blessing Agbebaku, among others.

The group paraded through the city centre, Ring Road, chanting solidarity songs, and engaging in drumming and dancing.

The rally caused significant gridlock for hours in streets adjacent to Ring Road, including the Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin.

One of the march organizers, Austin Osakue, dismissed last week’s judgment on the PDP’s primary election that produced Ighodalo as the party’s governorship candidate, calling it a “kangaroo judgment” that would not stand.

He urged the Edo people to remain committed and vote for the party and Ighodalo on September 21.

Osakue stated: “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.

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“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, accompanied by his running mate and other PDP chieftains in Edo, spoke during the march, emphasizing the need for continued happiness among party members in the state.

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 urged PDP supporters and members in Edo to stay calm and continue campaigning in their units, wards, local governments, and the state to ensure victory, and for him to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki on November 12.

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Stephen Jesuwale

Jesuwale Stephen is a journalist who finished from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. He is a distinctive writer, media strategist and also a Digital Marketer