Edo guber primaries: PDP clears Shaibu, Ighodalo, Igbenedion, 7 others

• Gives them clearance certificates

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Governor Caleb Mutfwang-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, screening committee for Edo State governorship primary has cleared all the ten aspirants who appeared before it (the committee) on Monday.

The ten aspirants have already been issued with their provisional clearance certificates.

However, one aspirant, Balogun Egiele Sunday, only collected the PDP expression of interest form and failed to collect nomination form.

He didn’t show up for screening on Monday before the Governor Mutfwang-led Committee.

The National Organizing Secretary,NOS, of PDP, Captain Umar Bature, rtd, confirmed to journalists on Tuesday that the ten aspirants have been cleared and issued with their certificates.

The aspirants who have been issued their provisional clearance certificates are; the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Philip Shaibu, Mr Asue Ighodalo, who is believed to be enjoying the backing of the State Governor, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, Barrister Omosede Igbenedion, Anslem Ojezua, Arthur Esene, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Prof Martins Uhomoibh and Umoru Adizetu Hadizat.

The PDP governorship primaries in Edo State is scheduled to take place on February 22, this year.

Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has scheduled the Edo State Governorship election for September 21st, this year.

Meanwhile, the PDP has disclosed that it has not released list of venue for Edo State 3 Ad-Hoc Delegate Congress, as claimed in a publication.

The National Working Committee of the PDP, in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, called on all members of our Party in Edo State and the general public to discountenance the said publication.

According to the statement, “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a publication in a section of the media purported to have been signed by the National Organizing Secretary as the list of venue for Edo State PDP 3 Ad-Hoc Delegate Congress for the PDP Governorship Primary election in the State.

“The PDP states in clear terms that it has not released any list of venue for Edo State PDP 3 Ad-Hoc Delegate Congress as claimed in the said publication.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP is a Party of Due Process and will publish the authentic and official list of venue for the PDP 3 Ad-Hoc Delegate Congress through the appropriate channel of communication of the Party.

“The NWC therefore calls on all members of our Party in Edo State and the general public to discountenance the said publication.

“The PDP charges the media to always rely on the official communication channel of the Party for information as provided in the Constitution of the PDP”, he said.