Asue Ighodalo wins Edo PDP guber primary

Asue Ighodalo, a businessman, has won the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state.

Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara and returning officer of the election, declared Ighodalo winner of the primary poll on Thursday. 

Lawal said Ighodalo secured 577 votes to defeat other aspirants in the race.

“I, therefore, declare Asuelimen Ighodalo the winner of this concluded primary today with a total vote of 577,” Lawal said

“Therefore, I hereby return him elected as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the upcoming election in Edo State. My brother, congratulations.”

Ighodalo was the preferred candidate of Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo.

Earlier, Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo, won the parallel governorship primary organised at his residence.

Bartholomew Moses, the returning officer, who announced Shaibu as the winner of the parallel primary election, said the deputy governor won the exercise with over 300 votes.

Some party delegates who arrived at the lawn tennis court of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, the state capital, the venue of the primary, were reportedly denied access.

The delegates subsequently moved to Shaibu’s residence where a parallel election was held.