The Peoples Democratic Party will award Dr Asuerinme Ighodalo, its Edo State governorship candidate, with a Certificate of Return on Tuesday.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said this on Monday in a statement headed “PDP presents Certificate of Return to its Edo State Governorship Election Candidate, Dr. Asuerinme Ighodalo.”
The announcement does not mention the fate of the state’s deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, who apparently emerged as a contender in a parallel primary held on the same day.
The statement read, “Following the successful completion of the Edo State governorship primary election and the ratification of the exercise by the appeal panel, the National Working Committee of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, hereby announces the presentation of the Certificate of Return to Dr Asuerinme Ighodalo, the elected candidate of our party for the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
“The Certificate Presentation ceremony is scheduled as follows: Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024; Venue: National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall, Wadata Plaza, PDP National Secretariat, Abuja; Time: 12 noon.
“The national leadership of the PDP commends all leaders, critical stakeholders, and members of our party in Edo State for the peaceful and successful conduct of our governorship primary election in the state.
“The NWC charges all members to be guided by the above-stated date and time and continue to work together to ensure victory for our party and candidate in the forthcoming election.”
Platinum Times earlier reported that Ighodalo, a former chairman of Sterling Bank, emerged as the winner of the PDP primary election in the state.
Ighodalo was elected at the delegate election of the party held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
But the Shaibu held a parallel primary elsewhere and was declared the parallel winner.