By Seyi Babalola
Ahead of the governorship election in Edo State on September 21, the state branch of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has presented a campaign council comprising over 200 members.
According to reports, the party’s State Organizing Secretary, Tony Anenih Jnr, made the announcement on Thursday in a statement to reporters in Benin City.
Anenih stated that the campaign structure includes an advisory council, a management committee led by Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, and a campaign council comprised of 200 senior party members.
He added that the women’s wing of the campaign council would be headed by the State First Lady, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, and Mrs Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, while the youth wing would be led by the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor.
He opined that the members of the Campaign Council are versatile members of the PDP who have been carefully chosen to deliver the party’s candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
According to him, the campaign structure has the following unique features: “The advisory council has 7 eminent members of the state, with His Excellency, the governor, as chairman.
“The Management Committee is made up of the Director General and 13 Deputy Director Generals for Finance, Contact and Mobilisation, Media/Publicity Field Operations, Security, among others.
“The State Campaign Council is made up of 200 eminent members of our Party; the women wing to be led by Her Excellency, the first lady of the Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki with the wife of the PDP candidate, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, and the youth wing to be led by the Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor,” he said.
While noting that the youth and women wings are two very critical wings, he added that they would be working independently while their relationship with the other directorates would be symbiotic.
The state party’s organising secretary, explained that the selection process was carried out under the direct supervision of the leaders of the party, headed by the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
“I do not have any doubt whatsoever in my mind, that this group of very versatile members of the PDP that have been carefully chosen will deliver our erudite, intellectually sound and broad-minded candidate, Dr. Asuerinme Ighodalo,” he stated.
He, however, congratulated all the selected campaign team, saying that the party expressed hopes and expectations that they would hit the ground running to deliver on their mandates.