Ahead of the September governorship election in Edo State, the influential Otu-Umagbae Socio-Cultural Group on Sunday endorsed Dr Asue Ighodalo and Barr Osarodion Ogie of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as their candidates.

Led by the President, Chief Bright Ogbebor and the General Secretary, Osagie Agbonwaneten, the endorsement happened during the April meeting of the group which was hosted by Rtd. Col. Victor Ogbomo, at his Lekki residence in Lagos.

A source close to the meeting confided in our correspondent that the group took time to ask Ighodalo fundamental questions about his plan and vision for the state. It added that the gubernatorial hopeful, in his usual brilliant and unassuming style, left no one in doubt about his preparedness to lead the state to which he got a unanimous approval.

“Dr Asue Ighodalo, in his usual brilliant yet unassuming manner, was able to convince the group that he possesses the requisite competences, the capacity, strength of character, sincerity of purpose and above all, that he is driven by compassion for the generality of the people of Edo State. So, that was it in a nutshell. And I think they generally discussed the way forward for the state and they were all satisfied,” the source hinted.

The group which parades political and economic heavyweights, is said to wield enormous influence such that important political aspirants always court its endorsement.

The group boasts of the likes of former Governor, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Barr Osarodion Ogie (who is the running mate to Dr Ighodalo), Chief Wole Iyamu, who is the current Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in the state, Honourable Commissioner Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, among others too numerous to mention.

The source further confided that Chief Ogbebor, who has been the President of the group for the last five years, was highly instrumental in facilitating the meeting between Ighodalo and the group.

The source revealed that: “In the past, Governor Lucky Igbinedion and Adams Oshiomhole went to address the group during their campaign times. That was those days.”

The PDP candidate has been notching up endorsements upon endorsements from influential groups across the state since the beginning of the new year and they range from academics, youth groups, women groups, socio-cultural groups, community development associations and artisans.