On the evening of Sunday, September 22, 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Edo governorship election. Okpebholo received 291,667 votes, defeating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes.
Before the official announcement, the PDP voiced strong objections to the election results, alleging widespread rigging. The election was marked by drama and controversy, with outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki, candidates, and political parties heavily involved.
While the PDP attributed its loss primarily to alleged rigging, several factors contributed to the APC’s victory. Besides the rigging claims, Governor Obaseki faced multiple challenges leading up to the election, with some of his political adversaries vowing to undermine him.
Here are five reasons the PDP fell short in the Edo governorship election:
GOV OBASEKI’S FEUD WITH SHAIBU
Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, initially supported Obaseki during his first term, even openly criticizing former governor Adams Oshiomhole. However, as Obaseki’s term ended, tensions arose between the two. The conflict culminated in Shaibu’s impeachment, which was later overturned by the court. Feeling humiliated, Shaibu pledged to work against the PDP, delivering his local government to the APC and undermining Ighodalo’s campaign.
OBASEKI’S FIGHT WITH THE PALACE
Governor Obaseki’s ban on Okaigheles (youth leaders) in the Benin kingdom led to a clash with the revered Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. The governor’s rationale was to combat cultism, but the palace argued that the Okaigheles were integral to the traditional administrative structure. This disagreement sparked a cold war between the palace and the state government, alienating traditional support.
ALLEGED BETRAYAL OF THE LEGACY PDP MEMBERS
In politics, influential party members and stakeholders play a critical role, often more than voter numbers. The perceived betrayal by certain legacy PDP members may have contributed to the party’s weakened position in the election.