The Edo State gubernatorial election will be held within 24 hours, with four major candidates emerging as front-runners.
From an initial field of 17 contenders, the race appears to have narrowed down to a contest mainly between candidates of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party and the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP).
The candidates have presented different visions and plans for the future of Edo State, from promises of economic transformation and infrastructure development to a focus on reforms in education and healthcare.
Below are profiles of the four main contenders, including their educational backgrounds, experiences and campaign promises:
Ighodalo is a corporate lawyer and co-founder of Banwo & Ighodalo, one of Nigeria's leading law firms specialising in corporate law.
In addition to his extensive experience in corporate finance, capital markets and mergers and acquisitions, Ighodalo is also known for his leadership roles in organizations such as Sterling Bank and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan and a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Ighodalo emerged as the PDP candidate with 577 votes. His campaign focused on economic development, educational reform and infrastructure improvement.
His manifesto, titled “Road to Prosperity for All”, also promises security, women and youth development, education, agriculture and food security, rural and community development and other strategies to raise the standard of living in Edo State.
The gubernatorial candidate has promised to respect and uphold the role of religious and traditional institutions, elders and other stakeholders in fostering the spiritual and moral well-being of the state.
He also pledged to engage in meaningful dialogue and partnerships with them to foster peace, tolerance and mutual understanding among religions.
Ighodalo's campaign promises include creating an environment with access to health care and social services, including free public transportation for seniors and other community programs tailored to their needs.
He also pledged to build on the achievements of the current administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki and take Edo to “the next level of prosperity.”
Akpata hails from Ovia South West Local Government Area and holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Benin.
He previously served as President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and earned respect for pushing for legal reforms and upholding judicial independence.
Akpata's manifesto outlines comprehensive plans for social justice, economic empowerment and improved public service delivery.
Akpata campaigned on a promise to bring transparency and accountability to government, with an emphasis on job creation, healthcare and security reforms.
His campaign promise includes a focus on sustainable development and job creation through the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Akpata also stressed the need to revamp the education sector in Edo State. His plans include improving educational infrastructure, ensuring better training and remuneration for teachers and implementing policies that will improve access to quality education for all.
Okpebholo, from Esan Central Local Government Area, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
Okpebholo, also known as “Akpakomiza”, is an influential businessman and politician with deep roots in the agricultural sector of Edo. He is known for his philosophy and efforts to boost agricultural productivity.
Okpebholo pledged to ensure rapid modernisation of Edo's infrastructure, create employment opportunities for the youth, enhance rural development and create jobs through industrialisation.
His campaign focused on rural empowerment, improving agricultural production and providing better opportunities for Edo youth.
Dr Azena, 45, is a medical doctor and health advocate. He was born in Okpella and belongs to the Okpekpe clan in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The NNPP candidate said he prayed before deciding to run and sees his candidacy as a vision to uplift the poor.
Notably, he also serves as the senior pastor of Omega Fire Ministries (OFM), which operates under the leadership of Apostle Johnson Suleman.
Azena, a relatively new face in Edo politics, has campaigned on health reform, agricultural development and women and youth empowerment.
He promises to harness Edo’s agricultural resources to boost food security, improve access to healthcare and expand educational opportunities. Azena also pledges to fight corruption and ensure transparency in governance.
On infrastructure, Azena promised to build roads at all levels and plans to reposition agriculture to enable farmers to produce more, citing alleged neglect by previous administrations regarding Edo farms.
He has promised to improve security and offer farmers interest-free loans to help them get back into farming. He also aims to reduce the cost of governance.
