The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday elected two candidates to fly its ticket for the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
The two candidates are Philip Shaibu, the incumbent deputy governor of the state and Asue Ighodalo.
The two candidates emerged in a parallel governorship primaries that took place in Benin City.
Shaibu was declared winner with 300 votes at a location different from the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, the venue of the main PDP primary election.
Earlier in the day before the declaration, a group of protesters who claimed to be delegates alleged they were denied accreditation at the main venue and subsequently took their protest to Shaibu’s residence.
The protesting delegates thereafter moved to another location where they reportedly held a parallel election and declared Shaibu the winner.
However, Ighodalo in another primary that was held at the Samuel Ogbemudia won with 577 votes.
The governorship primary committee, led by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, said a total of 594 delegates were elected to participate in the primary, while 585 delegates were accredited to vote.
Announcing the final votes, Lawal, the Chief Returning Officer for the governorship primary as well as the chairman of the committee primary, said Asue Ighodalo scored 577 votes, while his closest rival Philip Shaibu scored one vote.