Four Aides to Nigerian Governor Obaseki Resign Ahead of Election

Less than two weeks before the governorship election in Edo State, four aides to the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, have resigned their appointments. According to a report by Media Talk Africa, the Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) to the Governor also quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on September 4 and September 6, 2024.

Dr. Pamela Archer, who was Special Adviser to Owan East Local Government Council, separately resigned from her position. The resignation letters were addressed to the council chairman and ward chairmen.

Two of the resigned aides, Osayande Emenya and Efosa Edo-Osagie, were the former Youth leader and organizing secretary, respectively, of Ward 6 in Oredo Local Government. They cited the non-payment of salaries since their appointment as SSA to the Governor as one of the reasons for their resignation.

Additionally, they resigned from the PDP citing the marginalization of Aboriginal members within the party and the lack of equity, fairness, and justice at the ward levels.

On her part, Dr. Pamela Archer attributed her resignation to the lack of inclusiveness in the decision-making processes within the council. According to her, decisions are made without valuable input from executives, which undermines effective governance. She emphasized her commitment to integrity, transparency, and community development.

The resignation of these senior officials is likely to affect the campaign season ahead of the governorship election, as the parties seek to consolidate their bases and engage with the public.

These developments are being closely monitored by election observers and commentators, who will be observing the campaigns and electoral process in the lead-up to the poll.

This unexpected turn of events raises concerns about the effectiveness of government and the capacity of ruling parties to respond to constituent concerns, and highlights the need for a more participatory and inclusive approach to governance.

For readers not familiar with Nigerian politics or the state of Edo, the stakes are particularly high as the governorship election will decide the course of the state’s politics and potentially have a wider impact on the national agenda.