Asue Ighodalo, the declared winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election for governor of Edo State, has made it clear that Governor Godwin Obaseki is not his political godfather.

This announcement was made soon after Ighodalo’s victory in the hotly contested primary was declared by Zamfara Governor and returning officer of the election, Dauda Lawal.

Ighodalo beat out other candidates for the nomination, according to Lawal, with a total of 577 votes.

Interestingly, Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State at the time, was thought to favor Ighodalo.

This choice raised questions about godfatherism and political influence in the state’s political system.

During a Thursday interview with Channels Television, seasoned attorney Ighodalo stressed the independence of the Edo State people in selecting their own candidate for governor.

“Nobody can impose a governorship candidate on the people of Edo state,” he declared, eschewing any idea of being a political godfather.

Ighodalo went on to elaborate on his relationship with Governor Obaseki, characterizing it as a friendship that has lasted since 1977 instead of a system of political patronage.

“Nobody can impose anybody on the people of Edo state,” he declared. It’s not feasible. It is not my political godfather, Governor Obaseki. I am friends with him.