Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, has reached the National Secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), adamantly requesting 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, it’s worth noting that during the 2024 Edo governorship race, Philip Shaibu and Asue Ighodalo emerged as candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following parallel primaries held in the state on February 22, 2023.
Shaibu secured victory with 301 votes, while Ighodalo, in another primary conducted at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, won with 577 votes.
Shaibu’s candidacy was declared by a faction of delegates convening at a facility on Commercial Avenue, while accreditation was ongoing for some delegates at the Edo Hotel Marquee, slated to attend the primary at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Allegations arose regarding the authenticity of the delegate list released by the party’s national leadership, with claims of inclusion of individuals from Bayelsa State and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), casting doubt on its validity.
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.”
Meanwhile, the governorship primary committee, headed by Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, disclosed that a total of 594 delegates were elected to partake in the primary, with 585 delegates accredited for voting.
In the final vote tally, Lawal, acting as the Chief Returning Officer for the governorship primary and also chairing the primary committee, announced that Asue Ighodalo secured 577 votes, with his closest contender Philip Shaibu receiving one vote.
Additionally, Lawal stated that Anselm Ojezua, Osaro Onaiwu, Felix Akhabue, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, and Arthur Esele garnered zero votes, while Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and Omosede Igbinedion withdrew from the race. He further noted that six votes were declared void.
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