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APRIL 23, 2007 VOL. 21. NO 2

Senate:The AC Challenge

Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State

Facts on the ground suggest that the Action Congress (AC) is primed to clinch at least two senatorial seats in Edo State
By Walid Ogunseri, Benin City
ith less than seven days to National Assembly elections, the political terrain in Edo State is gradually changing, revealing situations that are likely to cause apprehension among the electorate as to which party to reckon with.
A close look at the senatorial candidates of the various political party in the state would reveal that only three political parties, the Action Congress (AC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), actually fielded candidates for the senatorial elections.
Though the governorship elections was decided on Saturday, the outcome of the elections may affect the electoral chances of these candidates.
For Edo North Senatorial District, the emergence of Alhaji Yisa Braimoh, the current chairman of the Board of NYSC as the PDP candidate did not surprise many because of his loyalty and long standing relationship with Chief Tony Anenih, the chairman, PDP Board of Trustees.
Braimoh has been a recurring decimal in Edo North politics, having contested the senatorial position three times but made to step down for other candidates based on the party’s decision.
What are the chances of Braimoh making it to the National Assembly in Abuja this time around?
Political pundits are of the opinion that Braimoh having secured the PDP ticket is as good as having won the election. At least, he has the support and blessing of party leaders in Edo North including the national leadership which call the shots.
But his major weakness is that he is from Owan axis, a minority tribe in Edo North politics. Besides, people see him as a minor compared to the AC candidate, Dr. Tunde Lakoju who is more experienced having been at the lower House of the National Assembly between 1999 and 2003.
Lakoju, the AC senatorial candidate, is a seasoned and versatile politician who had brief stint with the National Assembly and is quite familiar with the political terrain in Edo North having undergone a similar exercise in 1999.
He co-ordinated the Professor Julius Ihonvbere gubernatorial project before he defected to AC when Ihonvbere lost the gubernatorial primaries to Professor Osunbor.
There were indications that Dr. Lakoju may have inherited Professor Ihonvbere’s political structure which many people believe may play a major role in his senatorial ambition, coupled with the general disenchantment of the people with the PDP-led government in the area.
Another factor that may sway victory in his favour is that his local government, Akoko-Edo, also a minority tribe has never produced a Senator and the only aspirant that contested in PDP, Deacon Domingo Obende was schemed out.
In Edo South, the senatorial candidates are Ehigie Uzamere, an architect, PDP, Pharmacist Matthew Urhoghide of the AC and Lt. Colonel Paul Ogbebor, ANPP.
The political landscape in Edo South was altered with the emergence of Uzamere, a political light- weight as the PDP Senatorial candidate which came as a surprise to many political analysts who believed in the invincibility of incumbency, the new comer having defeated Senator Daisy Danjuma and Willy Ogbeide.
Though Uzamere may have secured his party’s ticket for the senatorial elections, sources said it is most likely he may not win the election because many people see him as an apologist to past military and civilian governors who pillaged the state resources for their personal use.
Worried by this development, his party early this year was said to have been shopping for a possible replacement should the EFCC hammer fall on him.The PDP, informed sources said, may have approached the state governor, Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion and Senator Danjuma as a possible replacement, an offer which both rejected.
Besides, the Edo South PDP leaders are worried that Uzamere lacks the political experience and goodwill to contend with the AC candidate, Urhoghide in any elective contest.
Urhoghide (Matto) as he is fondly called by his admirers, is seen by many as a major contender for the Edo South Senatorial slot based on his political structure and experience.
The Pharmacist-turned-politician has a political structure which dates back to the days of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), when he was a director of the Abiola campaign organisation. His political profile is very intimidating, having contested the 2003 governorship primaries under the banner of the ANPP but lost in controversial circumstances to Senator Roland Owie.
A loyal party member to the core, Urhoghide was forced out of the ANPP over what he termed as alleged injustice being perpetrated by the leadership of the party, hence he resigned his membership of the party at a well-attended press conference in Benin City, before he pitched tent with the AC where he was offered the Senatorial ticket on a platter of gold.
Political analysts are of the opinion that Urhoghide, given his wealth of experience, political structures, dispositions towards leaders and the dismal performance of the incumbent Senator may give his party victory in the April election.
For Lt. Colonel Ogbebor, the ANPP Senatorial candidate, he is seen by many as another serious contender. But his party, the ANPP was late last year engulfed in several leadership crisis in the state. The party also has no political structure that can guarantee his electoral victory. Observers, infact, believe that the ANPP might be banking on sympathy votes from the electorate who are generally disenchanted with the misrule of the PDP -led government in the state.
Though the ANPP cannot boast of money bags as its leaders, the party, however, has credibility as its treasured asset. Thus, Ogbebor is seen by many as an honest and credible politician who might want to impact the lives of the people, as he had done in the past if given the opportunity.
For Edo Central Senatorial District, the area is seen as the PDP’s main stronghold, at least as the chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Tony Anenih, and Osunbor, the party’s gubernatorial candidate hail from this zone.
The way and manner the PDP Senatorial candidate emerged was said to have been a subject of controversy as the party’s senatorial candidate, Elder Odion Ugbesia, the former Minister of Solid Minerals was never a Senatorial aspirant before Senatorial primaries were held across the state.
The former Minister was drafted into the race when he suddenly jettisoned his gubernatorial ambition owing to perceived pressures from above. Prior to his arrival on the scene, the battle for the Senatorial ticket was between Chief Albert Aigbogun and Clifford Odia, an engineer and former ANPP governorship aspirant in 2003 before he defected to the PDP.
In the keenly contested primaries, Odia defeated Aigbogun, a strong ally of Anenih.
Political analysts believe that the election was annulled to pave the way for the emergence of Ugbesia who was promised a senatorial ticket as compensation for relinquishing his gubernatorial ambition.
Informed sources believe that Ugbesia has no rival as far as the senatorial election is concerned because his party, the PDP is firmly in control of the senatorial district. But the AC Senatorial candidate for the central zone, Prince Henry Isebhohi, a Lagos-based successful businessman and a former confidant of Chief Anenih who crossed to AC because he could not secure nomination in PDP, is also making waves in the area, while the former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Thomas Okosun shall be battling Ugbesia for the Central Senatorial seat under the platform of ANPP.