A coalition of 35 political parties in Edo State on Friday threw their weight behind the re-election bid of the state governor, Godwin Obaseki.
The parties – the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Accord Party, KOWA, and 32 others – had agreed to collapse their structures in support of the governor ahead of the September 19 election in the state.
The leader of the coalition, Collins Oreruan, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, said the 35 parties including those recently deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) still have their structures intact.
He added that the parties would mobilise their supporters to support Governor Obaseki in order to ensure the continuation of his developmental strides.
Oreruan said: “We have resolved to advise our governorship candidates to withdraw and join hands with Governor Obaseki to build on the growth and developmental legacies achieved in his first term in office.
“We shall synergise with PDP to mobilise the voters at the grassroots on why Governor Godwin Obaseki should be returned.
“The governor’s legacies include positive economic development, the industrial revolution, workers’ welfare, security architecture, comprehensive and qualitative educational programmes, development of agricultural value chains, friendly taxes, levies, and rates regime amongst others.”
According to him, the Edo State governorship election is not about religious titles but the development of the state.