Following the announcement by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for off-cycle governorship elections in Edo state, several political parties within the state began preparations for the next state-wide elections scheduled to be held on 21 September 2024. In February 2024, primaries were conducted and candidates emerged. Here are the candidates from top three major parties in Edo state who are contesting for the seat of the Governor.
Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata , from Edo South Senatorial district, Edo State, is a Nigerian legal practitioner and politician. He was a senior partner and the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at Templars law firm in Nigeria until his resignation on 31 August 2023 to enable him pursue partisan politics.
In 1996, Akpata relocated to Lagos and teamed up with his cousin, Oghogho Akpata, who had just set up the law firm Templars the previous year. Akpata joined in the formation of Templars at the age of 23, and has grown the firm into what it is today, as one of the largest law firms in Nigeria with a workforce of about 100 lawyers, including two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, both of whom practice proficiently in diverse areas of Nigerian law. Akpata is currently senior partner and Head of the Corporate & Commercial Practice Group of Templars.
He was chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL). On July 30, 2020, he was elected as the president of the Nigerian Bar Association. In a significant development, August 1st, 2023 marked a pivotal moment as Mr. Akpata formally entered the political arena, solidifying his commitment to public service by joining the ranks of the Labour Party (Nigeria). He is the labour party’s governorship candidate in the Edo 2024 election.
Asue Ighodalo is a Nigerian lawyer. He is from Okaigben, Ewohimi, Esan South East LG, Edo State, Nigeria. He is alongside Femi Olubanwo, a founding partner of the law firm of Banwo-and-Ighodalo, a corporate and commercial law practice in Nigeria specializing in advising major corporations on Corporate Finance, Capital Markets, Energy & Natural Resources, Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking & Securitization and Project Finance. He is the chairman sterling Bank, Director, NSIA – Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Chairman NESG – Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
Asue Ighodalo is a product of King’s College, Lagos. He obtained B.Sc degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan in 1981, an LL.B from the London School of Economics and Political Science (1984) and a B.L from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos (1985).
Upon graduation from Nigerian Law School, Lagos, Ighodalo worked as an Associate in a law firm between 1985 and 1991, and in 1991 he set up Banwo & Ighodalo in partnership with Femi Olubanwo. The firm today is consistently ranked as a leading Nigerian law firm in the areas of Capital Markets, Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions. Mr. Ighodalo’s core areas of practice include Corporate Finance, Capital Markets, Energy; Natural Resources, Mergers; Acquisitions, Banking; Securitization and Project Finance.
Ighodalo has presented several papers on capital markets issues both within and outside Nigeria, and also authored many articles in leading law publications. Asue is the Chairman, Board of Directors, Sterling Bank Plc, Dangote Flour Mills Plc and The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). He also sits on the boards of other public and private companies, Non-Governmental Organizations (“NGOs”) and a statutory body including the Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) FATE Foundation (an NGO committed to the development of entrepreneurs in Nigeria)
Ighodalo became the Chairman of Sterling Bank in August 2014. He is a member of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and is a past chairman of The NBA – Section on Business Law (NBA SBL) . He is also a member of Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), USA, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, International Bar Association (IBA), Nigerian Maritime Law Association, Commercial Law & Taxation Committee of the Lagos Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, London School of Economics Lawyers’ Group and Associate Member Chartered Institute of Taxation.
Monday Okpebholo, from Edo Central Senatorial District attended Udomi Community Primary School and Ujabhole Community Secondary School, both in Uwesan Irrua, Esan Central LGA. He completed his secondary education and obtained his senior school certificate in Jos, Plateau State. Afterwards, he obtained a degree in Business Administration from the University of Abuja and is currently undergoing a Masters’ degree in Policy and Leadership Studies at the University of Abuja.
Okpebholo contested for the Senate Seat in Edo Central Senatorial District, under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was elected on February 25th, 2023. On June 13th, 2023, he was inaugurated into the Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly, as the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Edo Central Senatorial District.
In February 2024, he won the primary gubernatorial election for the All Progressives Congress.
who amogst these three will win the Edo Governor’s seat. Let’s watch out.
