A businessman, Asue Ighodalo, has been declared the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary election, which took place in Benin City in Edo State on Thursday.
Ighodalo defeated about nine other candidates including the Deputy Governor of the state in the election.
He polled a total vote of 577 votes to become the candidate of the PDP in the September 21 governorship election in the state while his closest rival garnered one vote.
The Chairman of the Edo PDP Primary Electoral Committee and Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State declared him as the winner of the exercise.
A total of 10 aspirants had contested for the ticket. Some of the aspirants, including Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and Barrister Omosede Igbinedion withdrew participation in the election.
Other aspirants include Arthur Esele, Anselm Ojezua, Omosede Igbinedion, Osaro Onaiwu, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, Felix Akhabue and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.
While Ogbeide-Ihama blamed irregularities and corrupted processes by the national working committee of the party for his withdrawal from the race, Omosede Igbinedion stepped down for Asue Ighodalo.
Also, the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu stayed away having organised a parallel election at another venue, and emerged candidate with 301 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Ighodalo thanked the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the entire people of the state for their love and support.
He noted that Obaseki has laid the foundation for him to build upon if eventually elected governor.
He promised to assemble young men and women for his government to turn the state around.
He said, “I must thank the entire people of Edo State for their support and most especially the Governor Godwin Obaseki for the confidence he has in me.
“Governor Obaseki has laid the foundation for me to build upon if I am eventually voted as governor of the state. I will assemble young men and women that are capable of turning the fortunes of the state around,” he added.
