Wike insignificant, won’t determine outcome of Edo election – Obaseki

• The governor insisted that his strained relationship with Wike will not hurt the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has said that only Edo people will decide the next governor of the State.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Obaseki noted that the people of the State are wise enough to decide whom to vote for.

This is even as he said the minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will not determine the outcome of the election.

The governor insisted that his strained relationship with Wike will not hurt the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party to emerge victorious in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

Recall that Wike played a crucial role in Obaseki’s victory against Adams Oshiomhole-backed candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All-Progressives Congress, APC, in 2020.

Wike has vowed not to support his candidate, Asue Ighodalo, come Saturday, having fallen out politically with Obaseki after the 2020 election.

Obaseki said, “He (Wike) came to get Edo people to vote for me, right? Wow! Edo people are not that dumb, they know who to vote for.

“They don’t require the services of an outsider to make their decisions. Edo people will make their decisions this time because they know what they want.”

According to the governor, he does not regret falling out with some of his political associates, including Oshiomhole, Philip Shaibu, among others, adding that some politicians were not happy with him because he had used money from government’s revenues to solve people’s needs.