Obaseki: Edo People Can Decide Their Votes Without Wike’s Guidance

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki emphasized that the people of Edo do not need an outsider to guide their decisions in the upcoming governorship election.

Obaseki downplayed the influence of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on the election, which is scheduled for Saturday. While Wike played a crucial role in Obaseki’s shift from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2020 and led a successful campaign for Obaseki’s re-election, their relationship has since soured. Wike has announced he will not support the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the September 21 poll.

Wike reiterated his position last week, stating that Obaseki had sought his support for Ighodalo on two occasions, both of which he declined, choosing instead to remain neutral.

Addressing the situation, Obaseki expressed that he is unfazed by Wike’s comments. He asserted that Edo voters are capable of making their own choices without external influence. “He came to get Edo people to vote for me, right? Edo people are not that naive; they know who to vote for,” Obaseki said during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 19, 2024. “They don’t require the services of an outsider to make their decisions. Edo people will decide based on what they want.”

The Governor also mentioned he has no regrets about distancing himself from certain political associates, including his predecessor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and Philip Shaibu, noting that some politicians are unhappy because he uses government funds to address the needs of the community.