BREAKING: Philip Shaibu announced as winner of Edo PDP parallel governorship primaries

Philip Shaibu, Edo State’s deputy governor, won the parallel People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primary.

Shaibu won the primaries by more than three hundred and one votes.

Meanwhile, the Governor Godwin Obaseki section of the party has yet to hold its own elections.

Hon. Omosede Igbinedion; former chairman of the Edo State APC, Anselem Ojezua; former chairperson of Esan West Local Government Area, Felix Akhabue; Felix Akhabue, former managing director of Sterling Bank, Dr. Asue Ighodalo; Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu; Arthur Esene, former House of Representatives member, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama; Amb. Martin Uhumoibi, Osaro Onaiwu, and Umoru Hadizat.

At the primaries, held at Benin’s Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, 576 delegates were scheduled to decide the fate of the ten hopefuls.

The exercise will be undertaken by an electoral committee chaired by Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, with Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwhori serving as co-chairman. The committee also includes Senator James Manager (secretary), Senator Bayero Nafada, Mrs Nella Rabana, SAN, Hadiza Mustapha, and Chief Felix Hyatt.

Tony Anenih Jr., the party’s State Organising Secretary, made a statement outlining where delegates and other participants, including the media, would congregate, how they would be accredited, and how the exercise would be carried out.

After weeks of talks and high-wire intrigues, a number of hopefuls are optimistic about their chances of obtaining the ticket to what is being termed as a two-horse battle between Ighodalo and Ogbeide-Ihama.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Governor Godwin Obaseki-backed aspirant Dr. Ighodalo would emerge as the PDP’s governorship candidate.

Protesting aspirants may be present. Contrary to earlier speculation, the eight complaining aspirants may be present at the polling venue.

Ighodalo might emerge since nearly all of the ad hoc and national delegates who will participate in the process were chosen through delegates elections in which the other aspirants did not participate.

While some of the aspirants were still debating whether or not to attend the congress, Ighodalo was said to have paid a visit to Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, daughter of Benin’s Esama, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, who declared last week that she would follow the outcome of the delegates’ congress because she was a loyal party member. (Vanguard)