The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has emerged as the winner of a factional Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary election.
According to reports, Shaibu was declared the party’s candidate for the September 21, 2024 governorship election with 301 votes out of the total numbers of 559 votes cast at the primary by Honourable Moses Bartholomew.
It was gathered that personnel of the Edo State Security Network, ESSN, however, stormed the venue shortly after the primary.
The personnel who were said to be armed, blocked the entrance to the venue thereby preventing delegates and journalists from leaving the premises.
While declaring Shaibu winner of the primary, Bartholomew Moses, the Returning Officer, said the deputy governor polled a total of 301 votes to emerge the PDP candidate.
Earlier before the parallel primary, some delegates protested that they were barred from participating in the process of accreditation and voting by some officials believed to be acting the script of the state government at the Edo Hotel, venue for the accreditation of delegates.
The spokesperson of the protesters, Festus Owu, however, appealed to Shaibu to help them pass their message to the National Headquarters of the PDP that their votes should be of consequence in determining who governs the state starting from November 12th.
They said that failure to make their votes count in the process may lead them to work against the party’s interest in September when the main election is taking place.
Responding to the protesters’ appeal, Shaibu assured them that their votes will count in the primaries and that they should exhibit no fear as their message will be passed to the appropriate quarters.
He informed them that their massive support is an indication that he will come out victorious after the primaries and subsequently at the main election in September.