Babatunji Wusu –
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has framed the upcoming 2024 Edo governorship election as a critical assessment of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its performance at the federal level. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, asserted that the people of Edo State have felt the impact of the APC-led federal government’s policies and are poised to back Asue Ighodalo as a result.
In a Monday interview with Arise TV, Ologunagba took the APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, to task for what he described as a disrespectful avoidance of public engagement. According to Ologunagba, Okpebholo’s refusal to participate in a television interview not only insults the people of Edo but undermines the integrity of the political process. In contrast, he praised Ighodalo for his extensive outreach and respect for the electorate, noting that Ighodalo has engaged with the community through various channels, including media, town hall meetings, and international campaigns.
Ologunagba highlighted that recent polls conducted by reputable institutions suggest that Ighodalo is leading comfortably. He emphasized that any candidate seeking public office should be prepared to engage with voters through all available platforms. “When you run for public office, you must be open to interacting with the people through every possible channel,” he said.
He further criticized the APC candidate’s reluctance to engage with the media, calling it an insult to both the political process and the voters. Ologunagba argued that the election is essentially a referendum on the APC’s failures at both the federal and state levels. “This election is about more than just candidates; it’s about the broader failure of the APC,” he asserted.
The PDP spokesperson expressed confidence in his party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, describing him as highly competent and dedicated to connecting with the electorate. He questioned why Okpebholo would select which media to engage with, suggesting that such decisions should not be left to the candidates but rather be determined by independent media networks.
Ologunagba concluded with a critique of the APC’s approach to campaigning, labeling it as an embarrassment to the political sphere. “It’s disheartening to see a candidate who not only fails to engage constructively but also suggests bringing insecurity to Edo State as part of their campaign,” he remarked.
