By Ayo Kehinde
Barr Asue Ighodalo has emerged the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the September 21, polls.
He emerged victorious in the governorship primary election held on Thursday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin-City, the Edo state capital
Zamfara State governor and returning officer of the election, Dauda Lawal, who declared Ighodalo winner of the primary, said Ighodalo secured 577 votes to defeat other aspirants in the race.
Ighodalo according to the released results beat his absent but closest runner-up, Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, as well as Anslem Ojezua, Mr Felix Akhabue, Mr Martin Uhomoibhi, Hajia Hadizat Umoru, Mr Osaro Onaiwu and Mr Arthur Esene to win the ticket of the PDP for the off-season September 2024 governorship election.
Spotting a heavy presence of police and other security operatives, the primaries held under the supervision of representatives of the party’s National Working Committee NWC and monitored by INEC officials.
Two aspirants, Barr. Omosede Igbinedion and Rt. Hon. Ogbeide Ihama announced their withdrawal from the contest before voting commenced.
The results as announced after counting by the Electoral Committee, are as follows
Anslem Ojezua 0
Felix Akhabue 0
Philip Shuabu. 1
Amb. Martins. 0
Barr. Esene. 0
Asue. Ighodalo 577
Omosede. Withdrew
Ogbeide Ihama. Withdrew
Void votes. 6
In a dramatic turn of events, Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu was declared the party candidate in a parallel primary conducted by his faction of PDP.
The parallel governorship primary which was reportedly held at Shaibu’s residence in Benin had Bartholomew Moses as the Returning Officer. He said the Deputy Governor won the exercise with over 301 votes in an election he was the only candidate.
