The incumbent Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, is demanding that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) issue him a certificate of return after he legitimately won the gubernatorial primary held last week. The governorship primary was reportedly held at Shaibu’s residence in Benin City, with Bartholomew Moses, the returning officer announcing Shaibu as the winner of the primary election, with over 300 votes.
However, there was another PDP Edo gubernatorial election observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in which a businessman named Asue Ighodalo was declared the winner. Shaibu emerged as the winner of the parallel governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Currently at the National Secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Shaibu insists that the party should give him the certificate of return. He said, “Today is the day set aside for the collection of the certificate of return for the winner of the primary. I understand someone came yesterday and was given, well, the court will decide.”
Some party delegates who arrived at the lawn tennis court of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City were reportedly denied access. The delegates subsequently moved to Shaibu’s residence where the election was held.
It is not clear whether the party, PDP, will grant Shaibu’s request and issue him the certificate of return of the governorship primary and consequently the candidate of the party for the Edo State governorship election, which is scheduled for September 2023.
