JUST IN: Philip Shaibu Storms PDP Secretariate To Demand Certificate Of Return
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, made a ‘shocking’ appearance at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday, demanding the party leadership to issue him a certification of return.
“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,” Vanguard quoted Shaibu saying upon arrival at the party’s secretariat.
Recall that two candidates, Shaibu and Asue Ighodalo, emerged as 2024 Edo governorship candidates of the PDP after parallel primaries were conducted in the state on February 22, 2023.
While Shaibu was declared the winner with 301 votes, Ighodalo, in another primary that was held at the Samuel Ogbemudia, also won with 577 votes.
Shaibu emerged as the PDP’s candidate following a meeting of delegates at a facility on Commercial Avenue, while other delegates were undergoing accreditation at the Edo Hotel Marquee before heading to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for the primary election.
Upon entering the venue for accreditation, they were escorted out by security personnel.
Furthermore, they noted discrepancies in the list of delegates released by the party’s national leadership, claiming that it included names of Bayelsa State residents and members of the All Progressives Congress, which they believed to be inaccurate.
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.”
The governorship primary committee, under the leadership of Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, announced that a total of 594 delegates were elected to participate in the primary. Additionally, 585 delegates were accredited to cast their votes.
In the final tally, Lawal, acting as the Chief Returning Officer for the governorship primary and chairman of the committee, revealed that Asue Ighodalo secured 577 votes, with Philip Shaibu receiving just one vote.
Furthermore, Anselm Ojezua, Osaro Onaiwu, Felix Akhabue, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, and Arthur Esele all received zero votes. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and Omosede Igbinedion withdrew from the race.
Lastly, six votes were deemed void.
