The two candidates who were produced in parallel elections are Philip Shaibu, the incumbent deputy governor of the state and Asue Ighodalo, the chosen candidate of Gov. Godwin Obaseki.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Two flagbearers for the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State on Thursday emerged from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election which held in Benin City.
The two candidates who were produced in parallel elections are Philip Shaibu, the incumbent deputy governor of the state and Asue Ighodalo, the chosen candidate of Gov. Godwin Obaseki.
Ighodalo, at the primary election that held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, won with 577 votes and was declared the party’s flagbearer by the governorship primary committee chairman, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal.
Lawal said a total of 594 delegates were elected to participate in the primary, while 585 delegates were accredited to vote. He also added that Philip Shaibu scored one vote, while six votes were voided.
Other contenders, Osaro Onaiwu, Felix Akhabue, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru and Arthur Esele scored zero votes, while Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and Omosede Igbinedion withdrew from the race.
In his acceptance speech, Ighodalo promised to take Edo State beyond where Governor Godwin Obaseki would stop.
Meanwhile, at a parallel congress which held at a facility in Commercial Avenue, Hon. Philip Shaibu emerged the party’s governorship candidate for the September 21 poll in the State.
The delegates at the parallel election claimed that they were chased away from the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium by security agents, while alleging that the list of delegates published by the national leadership of the party was not the authentic one used for accreditation.
Declaring Shaibu winner of the parallel primary election, Bartholomew Moses said “during the counting of this primary election, Philip Shaibu has a score of 301 votes and, therefore, we hereby declare Philip Shaibu as the authentic elected candidate for this election in the PDP.”
The exercise was disrupted by gunmen who invaded the venue. They were reportedly dressed in vigilante outfits and in several vehicles, including two black unmarked Toyota Hiace trucks, an unmarked white sienna, white Hilux and several other vehicles.