Asue Ighodalo, a businessman and lawyer, has said that he’s the only legitimate winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Edo State, noting that he’s not afraid of anyone.
Ighodalo was declared winner by the Chairman, primary election committee, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, on Thursday.
However, Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, who is also running for the governorship seat in the September 21, 2024 poll, rejected the outcome of the primary, alleging that it was marred by irregularities.
Shaibu said he won the primary that was held by his faction, which had the backing of the state executive committee of the PDP.
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He also warned that the PDP would lose the governorship election if it did not recognize him as its candidate, claiming that he had the support of the majority of the party members and the people of the state.
Reacting to the development during a chat with Channels Television, Ighodalo said he emerged victorious in the primary election that was conducted on Thursday, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
He said he polled 577 votes to defeat nine other aspirants, including Shaibu, who claimed to have won a parallel primary.
Ighodalo said he followed the due process that was approved by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, which also appointed Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State as the chairman of the electoral committee for the primary.
He said he was not aware of any other candidate that had emerged from the party until he heard it on TV, adding that he was not afraid of anyone or anything.
He said, “I didn’t even know that another candidate had emerged until I was listening to the trailer of this programme. What I know is that we went through a process that’s in accordance with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, and properly conducted the primary in accordance with the party’s constitution and guidelines.
“We had ward congresses, national delegates congresses and all other congresses that are accepted by the NWC.
“After going through all the congresses, the NWC published a list of those delegates as it’s supposed to do. And then the NWC also approved a national electoral committee headed by Governor Dauda Lawal.
“So, we went through the proper processes, accreditation and identification of delegates. INEC officials were present during the election as it’s supposed to be.
“Anything anybody is saying now is not in my place to talk about it. But I know we went through the right processes.
“So, I’m not afraid of anything or anyone. We did things by the book, in accordance with the rule of law. It’s when you break the law that you worry.
“I will repeat myself: when you follow the rule of law and you do things according to the books, you don’t have anything to worry about. I won the primary. I am the only winner and I’m not afraid of anything or anyone.”
The crisis in Edo PDP has raised concerns about the unity and stability of the party in the state, as it prepares to face the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the governorship election.
