On Tuesday, Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, issued a cautionary message to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, advising against the imposition of any candidate as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for the 2024 election.
Primate Ayodele emphasized that the imposition of a candidate would result in failure and mark the end of Governor Obaseki’s political career.
The prophet, through his media aide Osho Oluwatosin, conveyed a warning that if Obaseki prioritizes personal interests over democratic principles in the selection of the party’s gubernatorial candidate, the PDP would fade into obscurity in the state, and the chosen candidate would suffer a resounding defeat.
‘’If Obaseki calms down and allow democracy to reign, his candidate will win but if he relies on his own understanding and undemocratically pick a candidate for PDP, they will lose and put an end to his political career.
‘’Obaseki should allow the best candidate to get the party ticket instead of enforcing anyone on the people. If he tries to enforce anyone as candidate of the PDP, votes will be sold to APC in the election.
‘’If he uses his selfish interest to do this thing, the PDP will go into oblivion in Edo state. Obaseki shouldn’t rely on his understanding or power to pick a candidate if not, he will fail,” he said.
Primate Ayodele described the 2024 Edo election as a serious battle ground because the All Progressives Congress (APC) is going to try everything possible to win the election.
‘’Edo election is going to be a strong battle ground because APC wants to have it by all means, they are struggling to fight it but anyone that wants to win must be ready physically and spiritually.
“He must also have a strong spiritual mantra like ‘Emi Lokan’’. He must seek the face of God and have a good character. An imported person cannot win the Edo election. He must be very close to the grassroots,” he said.
The prophet further posited that Obaseki’s career will be finished if he loses the election while urging him not to allow greed and selfishness have the best of him.
‘’If Obaseki loses, they will finish him off politically. He must not allow selfishness and greed to control him in the choice of the party flag bearer otherwise APC will unseat PDP if they also pick a good candidate. If Obaseki picks someone God has not ordained, PDP will be destroyed,” he added.
