A legal practitioner, Asue Ighodalo, and Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, on Thursday emerged as governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the party’s parallel primaries ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state.
While Ighodalo emerged as the winner of the PDP in one of the parallel primary elections held at the Law Tennis Court of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with 577 votes out of 585 accredited voters, Shaibu was declared the winner with 300 votes at another parallel primary election conducted at the Deputy Governor’s Lodge located on Commercial Avenue, Benin City.
Announcing Ighodalo, the Chief Returning Officer for the election and Electoral Committee Chairman, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, said Ighodalo, considered by many as the choice of the incumbent governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, defeated other aspirants in the election, which include Arthur Esele, Anselm Ojezua, Omosede Igbinedion, Osaro Onaiwu, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, and Felix Akhabue, who scored zero votes, with the exception of Shaibu, who scored one vote.
In his acceptance speech, Ighodalo promised to work for the good of the people and the state if elected governor of the state, while also promising to build on the good foundation already put in place by Governor Obaseki.
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He said he would assemble young men and women to turn the state around if eventually elected.
Daily Trust reports that a total of 10 aspirants had been screened for the exercise, but seven presented themselves for the primary while three stayed away.
One of the aspirants, Omosede Igbinedion, stepped down for Ighodalo during the primary and directed his supporters to vote for him.
But Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama had earlier withdrawn his participation in the election, citing irregularities in the ward congress and local government congress.
Meanwhile, Shaibu and his supporters held their parallel primary at the deputy governor’s lodge located on Commercial Avenue, during which he was elected as the candidate of the party.
Announcing the results of the parallel primary after collation, Bartholomew Moses, the Returning Officer, declared that Shaibu won with an overwhelming majority of over 300 votes.
It was learnt that Shaibu’s supporters, led by Festus Owu, moved to the deputy governor’s lodge after they were allegedly denied entry into the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium venue of the primary.
In a related development, Bishop Akhalamhe has emerged as the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) governorship candidate for the governorship election.
Akhalamhe, who is also the party state chairman, was adopted by members of the party during its primary election held yesterday in Benin.
