Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, has just arrived at the National Secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), steadfast in his demand to receive his certificate of return.
According to him, “today is the day set aside for the collection of certificate of return for the winner of the primary. I understand someone came yesterday and was given, well, the court will decide…”
However, in the 2024 Edo governorship race, two candidates, Philip Shaibu and Asue Ighodalo, emerged as contenders for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after separate primaries were held in the state on February 22, 2023.
Shaibu clinched victory with 301 votes in one primary, while Ighodalo secured 577 votes in another held at the Samuel Ogbemudia venue.
Shaibu was endorsed as the PDP’s candidate by a faction of delegates meeting on Commercial Avenue, even as accreditation of delegates was underway at the Edo Hotel Marquee for the primary at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Delegates reported being escorted out by security personnel upon attempting to obtain accreditation, alleging discrepancies in the list of delegates provided by the party’s national leadership.
They claimed to have seen names of residents from Bayelsa State and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the delegate list, asserting it was not authentic.
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Declaring Shaibu winner of the 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.”
On the contrary, the committee overseeing the governorship primary, headed by Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, reported that 594 delegates were elected for participation, with 585 delegates accredited to vote. Lawal, acting as the Chief Returning Officer for the governorship primary and chair of the committee, announced the final results: Asue Ighodalo secured 577 votes, with Philip Shaibu, his closest competitor, obtaining only one vote.
Lawal noted that Anselm Ojezua, Osaro Onaiwu, Felix Akhabue, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, and Arthur Esele received zero votes, while Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and Omosede Igbinedion withdrew from the race.
Also, six votes were deemed void.
