The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in the forthcoming Edo governorship election, Asue Ighodalo, on Monday, congratulated the governorship candidates of the APC and LP on their emergence as flag bearers for their respective parties.

Senator Monday Okpebholo and Barr. Olumide Akpata would fly the flag of the APC and LP, respectively.

In a statement, Mr Ighodalo urged them to join him in a commitment to focus on issue-based campaigns ahead of the September governorship election.

Mr Ighodalo restated his firm belief that Edo’s strength was the unity of its people.

He appealed to all the candidates to refrain from campaigning with messages that promote division and disunity.

“The February 2023 general elections saw a level of hatred and vitriol masked as political sloganeering that took this nation to the brink and the fires politicians lit back then continued to smoulder across the nation.

“I and my team will continue to campaign to the people of Edo state in the language and behaviour that seek to unite rather than divide.

“We will stay focused on the issues that matter to our people and there will be no descent into abuse, ethnic-baiting and name-calling.

“We must not destroy the unity of the state we seek to govern, I therefore urge all my fellow candidates to similarly run respectful issue-based campaigns,” he said.

Mr Ighodalo, who expressed concern over the level of economic hardship people were going through, stated that he and his team had identified a pathway to prosperity.

He, however, promised to open up the state by reducing insecurity, securing the financing and attracting the private sector investors needed to build intrastate roads.

According to him, “Working with my team, we will grow the economy of the state, create jobs, and provide a better life for our people.”

Mr Ighodalo emerged as the winner of the PDP governorship primary conducted at the tennis court of the Ogbe Stadium on February 22, 2024.

(NAN)