Edo 2024: Ex-house of Reps Member Withdraws From Guber as Son is Killed in US

Edo 2024: Ex-house of Reps Member Withdraws From Guber as Son is Killed in US

  • A tragedy has struck in the camp of the APC gubernatorial aspirant contending for the number one position in Edo state
  • Honourable Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma has been thrown into mourning following the death of his son, who was killed in the United States of America
  • The former lawmaker urged all leaders and supporters of the APC in Edo state to support whoever emerges as the party flagbearer

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Following the death of his son, a former House of Representatives member, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, who is an aspirant on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, has withdrawn from the Edo state governorship race.

Osazuwa Agbonayinma, Edo guber
Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma steps down from the Edo governorship race after his son died in the US. Photo credit: Osazuwa Agbonayinma, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma
Source: Facebook

Agbonayinma’s 23-year-old son, Osazuwa Michael, with stage name Zuwa, was fatally shot in the back of the head in Houston, Texas, USA, in January 2024.

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Meanwhile, Agbonayinma was the first person to officially inform the APC leadership that he would contest the election when he visited the state secretariat in October 2023.

But on Thursday, February 15, Agbonanyinma urged his supporters and members of the party in Ikpoba-Okha local government to stay united, and back whoever emerges as the party’s candidate in Saturday’s primary election, Leadership reported.

He thanked party leaders and other stakeholders for the overwhelming moral, financial, and spiritual support in his journey so far.

Agbonayinma said:

“Presently, my family and I are highly devastated. And I am not in the right frame of mind to continue any serious political campaign at this time.”

Obaseki under fire for shunning handshake with Shaibu

In another development, Legit.ng reported that some Nigerians lambasted Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state on social media over a video of him shunning a handshake from his deputy, Philip Shaibu.

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Obaseki and Shaibu have been at loggerheads over the choice of his successor ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Edo.

Obaseki reportedly has an anointed candidate, a claim he has denied several times. Despite this, he has consistently neglected to support his deputy in the bid to succeed him.

The beef between the governor and his deputy became obvious when Obaseki declined to have a handshake with Shaibu at the second-term inauguration of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Esther Odili avatar

Esther Odili (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Esther Odili is a journalist and a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with 6+ years of experience. She Holds OND and HND in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institue of Journalism (NIJ), where she was recognized as the best student in print journalism in 2018. Before joining Legit.ng, Esther has worked with other reputable media houses, such as the New Telegraph newspaper and Galaxy Television. In 2024, Esther obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. Email: esther.odili@corp.legit.ng.