Asue Ighodalo, winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary for Edo State, has vowed to reach out to other aspirants in order to work for the party.

Ighodalo made this vow in an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.

He said, “I am going to reach out to all the aspirants (under the PDP) starting from tonight. I’m going to try and convince them to join hands so we can work together for the sake of the party and the people of Edo State.”

I am going to reach out to all the aspirants (under the PDP) starting from tonight. I'm going to try and convince them to join hands so we can work together for the sake of the party and the people of Edo State.

– Asue Ighodalo, Edo PDP Governorship Candidate #PoliticsToday… pic.twitter.com/Hm68AseBQz

— Channels Television (@channelstv) February 22, 2024

Recall that Ighodalo beat other aspirants, including Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, in the election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in the Edo State capital.

Ighodalo polled 577 votes to emerge as the state ruling party’s governorship candidate for the September 2024 election.

The Chairman of the Edo PDP Primary Electoral Committee and Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State declared the financial and legal expert as the winner of the exercise.

“I, therefore, declare Asuelimen Ighodalo the winner of this concluded primary today with a total vote of 577. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen,” Governor Dauda who is the chief returning officer for the election, said.

“Therefore, I hereby return him elected as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming election in Edo State. My brother, congratulations,” the governor who was flanked by his Delta State counterpart and co-chairman of the election committee Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said.

The PDP candidate promised to give his all for the state if elected as the governor.

In his acceptance speech, Ighodalo who was dressed in a white kaftan and flanked by his wife Ifenyinwa Ighodalo thanked delegates, supporters, and the PDP for their backing.

“I am actually, totally humbled. I thank the good people of Edo State. In the last four months, I have got to meet them more.”

Ighodalo also praised incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki for laying a good foundation, promising to “give my all” for the state.

“I am only a tool in this process and I promise you all I will be a good tool. By the grace of God, Edo State will move from where Governor Obaseki stopped,” he said.

Ighodalo’s victory comes one month after he threw himself into the ring for the race. Before his emergence, a group in the party had declared Shaibu as the governorship candidate of the PDP in a parallel poll.

Ighodalo is a lawyer who hails from Okaigben, Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of the state.