In Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party hold its gubernatorial primary on Thursday 22nd, 2024. Ten candidates will compete for 563 delegates votes in the indirect primary.
The PDP governorship candidate for the upcoming September 21 governorship election in the state is anticipated to emerge from the primary, which is taking place at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.
Among the ten PDP candidates are Blessing Igbinedion, the daughter of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Esama of Benin Kingdom, and Philip Shuaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State and a former chairman of Sterling Bank.
Dr. Earl Onaiwu, Arthur Esene, Hadizat Umoru, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Martin Uhomoibhi, and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama are the other candidates.
Delegates are expected to report to the Edo Hotel Marque, GRA, Benin City, where their accreditation will begin at 8 am, according to a party guideline that was made public by the state organizing secretary, Tony Anenih Jr., on Wednesday.
Upon accreditation, each delegate will also receive a security access card. Following this, all accredited delegates will be driven in specially designated busses to the governorship primary location.
Only approved buses transporting delegates with proper credentials are permitted entry into the central venue, per the requirements.
Additionally, all cars transporting candidates for governorships will drop them off at the entrance with their guests and then drive away.
“Delegates will be seated at the venue, local government by local government, while each aspirant will collect two security tags from the Edo PDP Secretariat, 59, Airport Road, Benin City. Each card admits one guest only.
“Only delegates, invited guests and aspirants will be allowed into the venue, while delegates, aspirants and their guests must be seated at the venue of the primary by 11 am prompt.
“Accreditation of journalists and civil society organisations will also be at the Marque. Only accredited pressmen and media outfits will be allowed into the venue,” the guideline added.
According to the statutes, every security agency has been called into action to make sure that these directives are adhered to carefully.
Tony Aziegbemi, the chairman of the PDP in Edo State, declared that the party was prepared to hold a credible, fair, and free primary election that will serve as a model for all subsequent primary elections in the nation.
Tony said, “What the NWC (National Working Committee) and the party owe the aspirants is to ratify the results of the delegate elections, which they have done and the list of delegates has been given to all the aspirants to enable them to have access to the delegates and start lobbying them before the primary election.
“Once the party does that, I don’t know what else any aspirant will want. What we know is that the list will never be altered and it is those on that list that will vote on the day of the primary election.
“I also enjoin our members to conduct themselves well so we can have a hitch-free primary election.”
In the meantime, The All Progressives Congress’ delegate primary election last Saturday was hailed as an eye-opener by the Edo State Police Command, which said that it would no longer regard such elections as merely party affairs.
Three people emerged as “winners” in the APC primary election, which led to a conflict.
Today (Thursday) is scheduled as the new primary for the party.
Chidi Nwabuzor, tge spokesman for the Police in the state, while speaking to journalists, said, “You could remember that we had a little hitch with a particular party delegates election. That has been an eye-opener for the Edo State Police Command; that we should no longer see it as a party affair.
“The delegates are people with diverse interests, people with diverse behaviours, people with different attitudes and characters. So, this time around, we are going to ensure that the right thing is done and protect the lives and properties of these party members.”
