When The Voice oF Reason Speaks, People In Authority Should Listen, Take Action

When The Voice oF Reason Speaks, People In Authority Should Listen, Take Action

By: Oriaifoh Godwins 

A couple of weeks ago, Izibili Emmanuel Esq. a Notary Public and Barrister of law, advised those in authority in Edo State, on the best way to go, so as to successfully scale through the Primary elections, adding that, if not tactically handled, may lead to devastating consequences, especially bearing in mind that; like vultures, laying in wait, and hovering over a dead animal to feed on it, there are political parties hovering over the political climate in Edo state, to feed on their anticipated disintegration of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

In his write-up captioned: "Direct Primary: a default of consensus... 3.5m votes promised, at risk? - implications and impacts" published in: https://esanmagazineonline.blogspot.com/2026/04/direct-primary-default-of-consesus-35m_0999395636.html

Barr. Izibili carefully x-rayed the options, their implications and the way out of any impending imbroglio and like a prophet, everything he predicted, is today, playing out, in the political landscape of Edo South, even as the trend in Edo Central, Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Federal constituency, appears to be falling in line with his predictions.

This officer of the Supreme Court, in the said write-up, warned that; "...With respect to the Senatorial bid in Edo South, the Governor of Edo state, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, must deliberately negotiate consensus with Pastor Ize-Iyamu, Ihama and Neda Imasuen".

He said; "Consensus is still valid if all aspirants endorse to that effect". 

Continuing, Barr. Izibili, wrote that; "...If Governor Okpebholo want consensus, he can still achieve it. All he need to do, is to tell the SWC to “negotiate” with aspirants. If Ize-Iyamu, Ogbeide-Ihama and  Imasuen all sign the Electoral Act, Section 84 forms, this process will enable him to submit one name; thereby satisfying

President Tinubu’s directive, because “Primaries were conducted” by consensus under the Direct  Primary".

Again, Barr. Izibili warned that; "To be able to achieve the 3.5m votes promised, come 2027, State Money will become the Primary Funding, as the Governor must fund venues, security, logistics for Direct Primaries in the 192 Wards. Same situation will also apply, come 2027 Presidential election. When that time comes, the opposition will be happy to tell the voters: “collect their money”. 

He added that; "...candidates that lost out, will eventually fight back in 2027 Presidential election, as some may eventually defect to other Political parties". This is becoming glaring and imminent, especially as Marcus Onobun is also claiming victory, even as the results clearly shows Lucky Eseigbe as the winner.

Barr. Izibili said;

"For example, if Senator Neda Imasuen should lose out in the Direct Primary conducted by Governor Okpebholo, he may defect to another party with his followers, with the narrative that: “governor rigged me out”. If this should happen, the opposition gain, and may eventually get a Senator. This scenario may also,  play out in the aspirants for the House of Reps". 

Izibili, advised that, to guarantee 2.5m votes: Okpebholo must use consensus, equity cum fairness to secure and lockdown Edo North and Edo Central, then spend money to win clean in Edo South Direct Primary, which will eventually erase any possibility of defections; because, every defector is a vote that President Tinubu won’t get in 2027".

As we await the activities of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Primary elections to simmer down, the people of Edo state, are apprehensive with respect to how it will eventually end, especially bearing in mind that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP and the National Democratic Congress, NDC, are laying in wait.