By. DADA. AYOKHAI
The shape and the likely direction of how the political party candidates will line up for the 2023 general elections in the Edo North district have begun to emerge, with the recent release of the list of candidates by INEC.
One of the most shocking revelations of the recently released INEC list is the trend and the pattern of the political contest to come.
An intriguing aspect of the unfolding political drama in Edo North district is the fact that some political associates of the Edo State deputy governor, Hon Phillip Shaibu, have melted into other political parties where they intend to contest for various political positions.
A well- known political ally of the deputy governor, Chief Azeez Yakubu Abeni, going by the INEC list of candidates, is slated to fly the flag of the Labour Party to represent Etsako federal constituency in the 2023 general elections.
The Labour Party in Edo State has of recent made huge political gains and in-roads, with supporters of the party refer tong to themselves as the Obi-dients and boasting to dislodge the two dominant political parties in the state, that is, the PDP and the APC.
Chief Azeez also hails from Jattu, Etsako West council area like the deputy governor, Hon Shaibu. He shot to the political limelight during the Edo 2020 guber campaign when he, along with other like minds, worked for the party’s victory.
Azeez was particularly present at every PDP campaign or rally in the Edo North district and was also one of those who donated logistics and other materials to the party.
Unfortunately, he was not considered for the PDP ticket to actualized his ambition to represent the constituency at the National Assembly.
Azeez is expected to slug it out with the PDP and the APC candidates in the February 2023 National Assembly poll.
Hon Johnson Oghuma of the APC currently represents the Etsako federal constituency but failed in his third term bid for his party ticket.
The presence of Hon Azeez and his supporters others has turned the Labour Party in Etsako into a well-oiled political machinery.
