Top contenders for Edo senatorial seats seek electorate’s support

With less than two weeks to the presidential, gubernatorial and National Assembly elections, the stage is now set for the political gladiators of the different parties to contest the senatorial slots in Edo State.

From the political calculations, it appears the contest has been narrowed down to candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).For instance, in Edo South Senatorial district, the three major contestants are the incumbent, Senator Matthew Urhoghide of the PDP, APC’s candidate, Patrick Obahiagbon and Ese Owie of the ADP.

Urhoghide is well known in the seven local government that make up Edo South Senatorial district with constituency projects across the seven local councils. A major achievement is his scholarship scheme for students in higher institutions across the state and has also empowered women and youths in the senatorial district.

Popularly called the promise keeper, Urhoghide, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, is very vocal and has become a household name in the state. Obahiagbon, popularly referred to as Igodomigodo, is not new to the office he is seeking. He was a two-time member of Edo State House of Assembly where he rose to become House Leader.

In 2007, he contested and won the Oredo Federal Constituency the House of Representatives and later Chief of Staff to Edo State Government from 2012 to 2016, having lost his reelection bid. Ese, son of the former Senate Chief Whip, Roland Owie is also in the race for Edo South Senatorial seat, but little is known about his political background.

A Harvard trained Chattered Accountant, was the pioneer Chairman, Edo State Board of Internal Revenue Service under Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s government.

In Edo Central Senatorial district, where Senator Clifford Ordia of the PDP is seeking reelection, he will be contending with the APC Senatorial candidate, Osagie John Inegbedion, a former Commissioner for Finance in the state.Also, in Edo North Senatorial district, APC’s candidate, Senator Francis Alimikhena will be contesting with PDP’s Abubakar Momoh. They are both seeking the electorate support for the senatorial slot.