Ahead of the January 29, 2024, screening of all its governorship aspirants for the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, the People’s Democratic Party has raked in about N375 million from the sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest forms.
While the state’s ruling party pegged the Nomination Forms at N30 million per aspirant and the Expression of Interest form at N5 million, it however made the EOI form free for female aspirants as well as those who are physically challenged.
As of Thursday afternoon, available information indicated that 11 aspirants so far purchased and picked up the forms at the Wadata Plaza, which houses the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja.
It was also gathered that among the aspirants were two female contestants, who paid N30 million each for their nomination forms having been exempted from paying for the EOI forms as directed by the party.
Aspirants who purchased the forms included the embattled Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu; a former Chairman of Sterling Bank, Asue Ighodalo; and Blessing Igbinedion, daughter of Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.
Others also aspiring to take over at the Osadebe House from incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, are Anselm Usiose Ojezua, Omoregie Ihama, Umoru Hadizat, Felix Akhabue, and Martin Uhomoibhi.
Going by the schedule released by the party, Thursday, January 25, 2024, was fixed as the deadline for the sale of both EOI and nomination forms with the party expected to conduct its primary election on Thursday, February 22, to elect its candidate for the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election.
The sale of forms commenced on January 17, 2024, with the party scheduling Saturday, January 27 as the deadline for aspirants to submit their completed forms.
Meanwhile, reports further indicated that the PDP may have adopted the indirect primary and approved ad-hoc delegates as the method to pick its governorship candidate that would square up with contestants from other political parties come Saturday, September 21, 2024 poll.
It was also gathered that the party’s National Working Committee was not interested in adopting the zoning formula for its ticket in Edo State with an inside source explaining that party members would elect delegates at ward and local government levels with these delegates moving to Benin, the state capital on February 22 to elect the party’s flag bearer.
Also, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, assured all aspirants of a level playing field, stating, “What the aspirants and Edo State stakeholders should expect from our party is a free, fair, credible, and acceptable primary that the PDP is known for.”
On the state of the party’s readiness to keep the Edo State Government House after September 21 election, Ologunagba assured that the PDP is putting its house in order to ensure that opposition parties do not poach members who may be aggrieved after the primary election.
According to him, “The PDP is well prepared for the primaries, and we are working hard to ensure a fair process and that there will be no rancour that could eventually affect our electoral victory come September this year.”
Also, the party in a statement by the National Organising Secretary, Bature Umar named the former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, as Chairman of the Appeal Screening Committee.
Other members of the committee are Senator Ben Ndi Obi, Adamu Maina Waziriz, Hon. Margaret Icheen, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam – Member, Dr.Saka Balogun and Theophilus Dakas Shan (NC-NVC) as members.
Other members of the appeal committee are Chief Dr. Ali Odefa, Vice Chairman of South-east, Chief Dan Orbih South-south Vice Chairman, Hayarto Bello Gwarzo, North-west vice chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Bovoa, Hon. Wahab Owokoniran Emmanuel Enoidem, SAN, who will serve as member/Secretary.
