TFormer gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), in Edo State, Prince Tom Iseghohi, has clinched the ticket of the Action Alliance (AA) in the upcoming state governorship primary election.
With his entry, the intriguing Edo State governorship battle is now a four-horse race that would be keenly contested by experienced candidates.
Iseghohi, an erstwhile managing director at Transnational Corp of Nigeria, had earlier withdrawn from the LP primaries, citing lack of transparency and monetisation of the process.
The frontrunner, who pitched his tent with the Action Alliance, won the party’s substitution governorship primary election which was held in Benin-city last Saturday by over 90 percent of the votes.
His closest rival, Chief Tony Omoba Ogie (D’King Mayor), a former gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), withdrew during the primary poll, citing his belief in the agenda of Iseghohi and the party’s prospects under Iseghohi’s leadership.
Speaking after his emergence, the National Chairman of AA, Chief Kenneth Udeze, applauded Iseghohi for taking the party from one of the smallest in Edo State to the fourth largest and fastest growing party in the state in four weeks.
The AA, he noted, has grown rapidly under Iseghohi’s leadership to thousands of leaders and tens of thousands of new members during the last month.
According to him, AA is not only the fastest growing party in Nigeria but also the party to beat i the forthcoming September 21 governorship election in the state.
In his acceptance speech, the AA candidate vowed not to disappoint the people of the state if elected, as he expressed optimism about winning the September exercise.
Iseghohi told party faithful that they made a huge investment by electing him as the party’s governorship candidate, assuring them that his administration would embark on policies and programmes that will give comfort and joy to the people of the state.
He said: “Today, I stand here not as an individual, but as a representative of a movement-a movement rooted in the belief that together, we can overcome any challenge and achieve greatness. Our contract with you the brave people of Edo State, the members of the globally revered Benin Empire, is not merely a document but a solemn commitment- a commitment to peace, unity and prosperity for every citizen.
“Our contract outlines a bold vision for Edo state- a vision where security of lives and property is paramount; where justice and equity prevail, and where the rule of law is sacrosanct. It envisions a state united by a common purpose, guided by a shared set of values and propelled by a culture of impact-driven success.
“Furthermore, our contract is a blueprint for prosperity-an economic roadmap that prioritises capital formation, revenue acceleration and massive expenditure in critical sectors. It promises social prosperity through clarity of identity, job creation, civic education, and human capacity development. And it envisions political prosperity through decentralized governance, democratic reforms, and empowerment of the people.”
On security, he said his administration would prioritise the safety and security of every citizen, invest in modernising law enforcement agencies, providing them with the necessary training, equipment and technology to effectively combat crime.
He said community policing initiatives would be promoted to foster a closer relationship between the police and the people.
On economic prosperity, the AA standard bearer promised to introduce a living wage to improve citizens’ standard of living, engage the right team to guide economic growth strategies, as well as enhance the credit rating of the state to attract investments.
