22nd May, 2022
By Jethro Ibileke
Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held its primary elections on Sunday, for the State Assembly and House of Representatives at various venues across the State.
Reports however gave hints of parallel elections by members loyal to the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and those loyal to the Deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih.
It would be recalled that prior to the primary elections, internal crisis had rocked the camp’s of Governor Obaseki and that of Dan Orbih, a situation that resulted in several court injunctions, restraining the adhoc delegates from participating in the elections.
Speaking to or Correspondent, the State Secretary of the party, Hillary Otsu, who denied the existence of faction in the party, however said that he heard that “some people were trying to do things somewhere”.
He said: “We don’t have faction. Yes, I heard that some people were trying to do things somewhere.
“The designated venues for our primaries were published. I wrote several letters to INEC, the police and the primaries were conducted. As we speak, some of those of the House of Representatives are still going on. All the party chairmen, the adhoc delegates that were elected two weeks ago, from what I’ve gathered, are present at these venues.
“Yes, there are skirmishes of things I’m hearing, but I’ve not been able to verify anything and I’ve even received a few result sheets already and a member of the committee from Abuja has called me that he is around and when the results are coming in, he will receive them.”
Results of the primaries monitored by our correspondent at different voting centres showed that aspirants, including incumbent members loyal to Obaseki, emerged candidates for the various seats in the State House of Assembly and House of Representatives across the State.
Jude Ise-Idehen, an incumbent member representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha federal constituency, was re-elected as candidate.
Marcus Onobun, Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, won as the PDP ticket to represent Esan West/Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency.
Onobun polled 83 votes at the election which was held at Irrua Town Hall, in Esan Central Local Government Area.
Henry Okhuarobo, the current member representing Ikpoba-Okha constituency in the State House of Assembly also emerged the PDP candidate for the area.
In Edo North, former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Kabiru Adjoto, emerged candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency. He clinched the ticket with 28 votes.
Yekini Idiaye, a current member of the Edo State House of Assembly, also emerged the PDP candidate for Akoko Edo constituency I.
In other results, the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Otse Momoh-Omorogbe, emerged the party’s candidate for Etsako West constituency I.
Aisosa Amadasun and Uyi Omosigho were elected candidates of the PDP for Oredo West and Oredo East State constituencies respectively, while Sunny Aguebor won the ticket for Oredo Federal constituency.
Announcing the results of the election, the returning officer, Ikponmwosa Matthew, said 18 delegates each were accredited for the Oredo East and Oredo West constituencies, while 36 delegates were accredited for the Oredo Federal constituency.
In Ovia Federal Constituency, Omosede Igbinedion emerged winner.
As at the time of filing this report, a source close to Dan Orbih’s camp said they are currently holding their primaries at an undisclosed location.