2023: MARCUS VS JOEFEL; IDIAKE DIGGING DEEP

There is an adage in pidgin palance which says, "pikin wey say im Mama no go sleep, im self no go sleep"

This is the case of the Honourable Speaker of the Edo  State House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobun and the former Chairman of  Esan West Local Government Area and former Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Hon. Felix Godsent Akhabue alias Joefel  who are both members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Since after the conduct of the 'Primaries' of the PDP in Edo State, members of the Party in Esan West, Esan  Central and Igueben Federal  Constituency (Okpebholo) of Edo Central Senatorial District of Edo State have neither rested nor have a peaceful and quality politiking. No thanks to Hon. Marcus Onobun and Hon. Felix Akhabue who are laying claim to the primary ticket to contest the House of Representatives election in 2023. The matter became complicated as a result of the division in the Party.  A faction belongs to the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki while the other is for Chief Dan Orbih, the South South Chairman of the Parity. 

Hon. Marcus belongs to the Governor's faction while Joefel is for Chief Dan Orbih.

Campaigns are on top gear. Other Political Parties like the All Progressives Congress (APC), 

Dcn. Patrick Akhimiemona Idiake

APC Candidate

Claiming to be the Candidate of PDP

   Claiming to be the PDP Candidate.

Labour Party and their candidates are combing the nook and crannies of Okpebholo Constituency soliciting for votes while Marcus and Joefel of the PDP are still struggling and sweating to claim the ticket to contest the election. Hon. Marcus is brandishing the Certificate of Return issued to him by his faction and Joefel is drawing the attention of the electorates to the INEC Portal and quoting the serial number against his name. INEC on the other hand is saying that the name of the candidate in the Portal is based on Court judgement. As it stands now, Marcus and Joefel are at the mercy of the Judiciary. But recently, the Supreme Court gave  a judgement that it is the Political Party that determines who is its candidate.

The salient questions now begging for answers are as follows;

*** In line with the Electoral guidelines that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must monitor or observe the primary elections of the Political Parties, which of the Faction's primary did INEC monitor or observe, Marcus or Joefel?

*** The Electoral guidelines stipulates that the Venue of the primary election must be known and declared. It is on record that Marcus and Joefel had their primaries in different Venues which is against the Electoral Act. Based on this violation, which Venue will INEC claim to be the approved Venue for the Primary?

*** Is the Certificate of Return issued by a Faction binding on INEC for the Primary it (INEC) did not monitor?

*** Is the name in the INEC Portal binding on INEC without Certificate of Return?

***Can INEC disobey Court Order and remove the name in the Portal and replace it with the one with the Certificate of Return?

These are questions that the PDP, the candidates, the INEC and the Courts will be unraveling any moment from now.

Yet, there are other questions that the eleçtorates are anxious to have answers. Some of them are as follows;

***Will the Supreme Court that gave judgement that the determination of any Party candidate is the Party's affairs make u-turn or reverse itself and declare who is the candidate of the Party?

*** Will INEC accept a candidate of Primaries they did not monitor?

***Will the Party present a candidate where fake delegate list and unapproved Venue were used in the primary election? Questions, Questions and Questions.

In all these disatifaction, acrimony and quargmirre tearing the PDP apart, the group that stands out to benefit is the All Progressives Congress  (APC) and its candidate, Dcn. Patrick Akhimiemona Idiake.

The leadership of the APC in Okpebholo Constituency have captilised on the crisis within the PDP to infiltrate its ranks.

According to one of the leaders of the Party (PDP), who was a member of the last Exco, "Joefel and Marcus have played into the gallery of the APC with the help of the State Governor. I can tell you that any of the factions will not accept any resolution or decision taken now by the national leadership of the Party, the INEC or even the Courts. If you say the candidate is Joefel,  will Marcus accept and if you say Marcus, will Joefel agree?

I already assume that our Party (PDP) has no candidate in Edo State and any of them presented will fail woefully.

Idiake  as a smart politician has finished work on both the APC and PDP. I can tell you that majority of the PDP members are already working for Idiake and not APC as a Party. This means that Idiake is coasting home to victory in 2023. Mark my words".

An Ardent supporter of Dcn. Idiake, reacting to the crisis in PDP simply said, "In line with relic of Governor Wike's song, "as e dey pain them, e dey sweet us and as e dey sweet us, e dey them, Dcn. Patrick Akhimiemona Idiake is favoured by the crisis in PDP,  favoured by God and favoured by men. So,  victory is guaranteed for him. God bless you"

From the above analysis, one may not be out of order to say that Dcn. Patrick Akhimiemona Idiake is the next Honourable member to represent Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency come 2023. But, time will definitely tell.