By Albert Akota
Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, say he remain the authentic candidate of PDP, People Democratic party and no intimidation and harassment can change his political ambition.
Shaibu said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja over the weekend.
Shaibu emerged the party’s candidate in a parallel primary held on Thursday to choose a standard bearer for the upcoming governorship election in Edo.
He alleged so much intimidation and harassment of people in the build up to the primary.
“The level of intimidation and harassment meted out to me and those people who believe in me was beyond comprehension, yet it does not actually change our resolve in what we believe in.
“People were sacked, some civil servants were suspended, others transferred from their position and taken away from their family comfort to different places, all because they were associating with me.
“Well, I dare say that anybody still intimidating or harassing anybody means that he is not ready to win an election,“ he told newsmen.
He said if the party truly desired to win the election on September 21, it would field a popular and competent candidate, not impose a candidate on the people.
He also said that the PDP must adhere to the electoral laws and party guidelines to be able to win the upcoming election in the state.
Shaibu further said for the PDP to win the upcoming governorship election in the state, it should adhere strictly to its own rules and guidelines.
The deputy governor also alleged that elections were about contestation, noting that the other primary that produced Asue Ighodalo as its candidate disenfranchised 381 delegates.
“The electoral law forbids exclusion. An election can be re-ordered because of exclusion, it is a major sin that the law forbids“, he told newsmen.
He said though political parties have the right to produce candidates, such rights must comply with the electoral laws and the party’s own guidelines.
“If the guideline is not followed in the process of producing your candidate, that candidate cannot see the light of day.
“So the ultimate right of any party is to follow your rules in producing your candidate”, Shaibu said.
He had vote 577 votes to become the candidate of the PDP in the Sept. 21 governorship election in the state while his closest rival garnered one vote.
