Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has made a surprising move by endorsing Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, for the Edo State governorship election ¹. This is quite notable given his family’s strong ties to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Bashir took to social media to express his support for Ighodalo, sparking intense discussions within political circles due to the unusual nature of an El-Rufai backing an opposition figure.
Asue Ighodalo, a former chairman of Sterling Bank’s board, has been gaining significant attention as the election day approaches. The contest is expected to be a close one between Ighodalo, Senator Monday Okopebholo of the APC, and Barr. Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.
It’s worth noting that Bashir’s endorsement isn’t the only one Ighodalo has received. The Obidients, a socio-political support group, has also declared their support for Ighodalo’s candidacy ². Additionally, the Edo South Vanguard for Justice and Equity has thrown their weight behind him as well ³.
The Edo State governorship election is scheduled to take place on September 21, 2024, and it’ll be interesting to see how these endorsements impact the outcome.