Etose Dickson Imasogie, is a seasoned and well known politician in Edo State and beyond. He is highly principled politician whose kind is hard to get in the Nigerian political system. A truly unique, dedicated and committed political leader with many decades of political experience. He is very consistent and not found among the ‘hit and run’ or ‘food is ready’ politicians. He is among the best political tacticians nationwide that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can boost of, anytime, anyday. A complete gentleman without blemish, Etose Dickson Imasogie, the shining light of the Edo PDP whom as a founding member, has never wavered from the party since its formation in 1998.
Indeed, Etose Imasogie is a political oracle whose ability to predict political situations is unrivaled.
In his usual down to earth interview with Sir Ralph Okhiria, over the recent INEC publication of candidates list for the 2023 general elections, Etose Imasogie said the coast in now set for political fire works to begin in earnest.
Happy reading:
INEC has released the list of all the political parties’ candidates contesting the 2023 general elections and the legacy group of the Edo PDP is having its candidates on the list; so what’s your reaction?
I’ve always said the truth and really it’s only the truth that can save someone over this our division. I’ve granted so many interviews where I analyzed this division in PDP, it didn’t come to me as a surprise. Less than 2 weeks ago when our State Chairman said he shared the certificates of return, I laughed at him and I did that because I don’t know if he’s a lawyer, I’m not a lawyer but his action offended the law because he is aware that he sent the wrong list to the National Secretariat, a list that was not produced according to the law. Around the 5th or 6th of June, the task collectors in the National Secretariat issued the certificates of return to him and he kept it because he knew it was illegal. That time, the Ad-hoc delegates that were supposed to elect the candidates were in the court.
The candidates elected by the authentic delegates also went to the court and has been there till date.
My dear, I think INEC is playing according to the rules of the game. Any elective position not monitored by INEC; because the rule in the electoral Act is that INEC shall monitor and if the word ‘shall’ is mandatory, and INEC monitored the legacy’s side and now the truth is out and everyone now know who’s who.
Presently, as the situation is on ground in Edo PDP, what do you think will be the fate of your party in the coming elections?
First, Edo state is a PDP state, even when our new brothers had not joined us. The APC is the one that is divided into two factions whereas the landlord has remained as one. Common sense would tell us that if the APC is fighting and my assumption that Edo is a PDP state is correct, we have no reason to be afraid of them.
Sir, you are saying that with or without them, the old PDP will deliver in Edo state?
Yes. But as a good leader, you wouldn’t want to take it that way. Now, it’s known that the Legacy Group candidates are the approved ones, we would go and beg them to work with us. We are not like them. If you lose one vote, it can make you lose an election. But my fear is whether we can trust them. Let me use my local government as a reference point. The person contesting, although I’m hearing another news now that Ativie double-crossed him. The person we knew that was contesting the federal house of reps is Murphy Imasuen. Now we are hearing Ativie. If we are sincere, Ativie contested under APC and is now contesting under Labour Party. But my fear before is that Imasuen came with the Governor and is contesting under Labour. Former commissioner for agriculture, Edebiri came with the Governor but now, he’s a candidate of the Labour Party for House of Assembly in Uhunmwode. I would like to draw you back to when this same Edebiri was the PDP Returning Officer for national delegates in Egor and he returned Odion Olaye in the governor’s group in June. But today, he’s the candidate of Labour Party in my local government. How do you want me to bank on those who came with the governor that they are genuine PDP? They have to convince us that they are genuine. You are aware that Imasuen is still a special assistant to a PDP senator but he’s the Labour Party’s senatorial candidate. However, we are going to beg them and those in Obedience, to retrace their steps back to their party so we can be one. But where they say no, I’m sure we are up to the task. But if we are together, it would be easier for us to win.
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