Edo 2024: Shaibu, eight others reject PDP congress, Makinde turns down committee

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, on Sunday, conducted an election (congress) to pick delegates that will participate in the party’s February 22 governorship primary.

The exercise was, however, trailed by an uproar as nine out of the 11 PDP governorship aspirants boycotted the exercise.

Also, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who was the chairman of the three-man committee in charge of the Edo delegates election, withdrew from the exercise.

But the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, who is said to be the deputy chairman of the committee, commended the large turnout of party members for the delegates election.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, described Makinde’s withdrawal from the process as unfortunate but said it would not undermine the credibility of the exercise, which, he said, witnessed a large turnout of party members.

The nine governorship aspirants, who boycotted the delegates election, were Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, Hafia Hadizat Umoru, Omosede Igbinedion, Dr Earl Osaro Onaiwu and Arthur Esene.

They wrote a protest letter to the PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and sent a copy to the National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Dan Orbih.