Investment banker and former Chairman of Sterling Bank and Nigerian Breweries, Asue Ighodalo, yesterday, emerged as a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a primary held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City for the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
At another venue in the ancient city, the deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, returned the winner in a parallel exercise conducted by his faction of PDP.
At the primary presided over by the Chairman of Edo PDP Primary Electoral Committee and Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal and co-chairman, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Ighodalo polled 577 out of the 584 votes by delegates to beat his closest rival, Shaibu, who scored one vote while others got zero vote.
With the heavy presence of police and other security operatives, the primary was held under the supervision of representatives of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and monitored by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials.
Shaibu, who stayed away, organised a parallel primary at another centre, with Bartholomew Moses as the Returning Officer. He emerged candidate with 301 votes, while accreditation was still going at the stadium.
Ighodalo beat his absent but closest runner-up, Shaibu, as well as Anslem Ojezua; Felix Akhabue; Mr Martin Uhomoibhi, Hajia Hadizat Umoru, Osaro Onaiwu and Arthur Esene to win the ticket.
Two of the aspirants, former House of Representatives member (Oredo Federal Constituency), Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and an ex-member for Ovia Federal Constituency, Omosede Igbinedion, had before the commencement of the process, announced their withdrawal from the race.
According to Igbinedion, she stepped down for Ighodalo “for the interest of the party.”
On his part, Ogbeide-Ihama said his decision was in response to the overwhelming calls from a diverse section of Nigerians.
In his acceptance speech, Ighodalo thanked Governor Godwin Obaseki and Edo people for their love and support.
