Ten aspirants are taking part in today’s (Thursday) governorship primary election being held by the People’s Democratic party (PDP) in Edo State.
Holding currently at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, the aspirants seekin the votes of 563 delegats include 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.
Other aspirants are Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Martin Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Dr Earl Onaiwu and Arthur Esene.
The primary, holding, is expected to produce the PDP governorship candidate for the forthcoming September 21 governorship election in the state.
The party’s state Organising Secretary, Tony Anenih Jr, said delegates are to report at the Edo Hotel Marque, GRA, Benin City, where their accreditation will kick off at 8 am.
Also, each delegate will be given security access cards upon accreditation after which all accredited delegates will be conveyed in dedicated buses to the venue of the governorship primary.
According to the guidelines, only designated buses carrying accredited delegates shall be allowed into the primary’s venue.
Also, all vehicles conveying governorship aspirants will drop them and their guests off at the gate and depart thereafter.
“Delegates will be seated at the venue, local government by local government, while each aspirant will collect two security tags from the Edo PDP Secretariat, 59, Airport Road, Benin City. Each card admits one guest only.
“Only delegates, invited guests and aspirants will be allowed into the venue, while delegates, aspirants and their guests must be seated at the venue of the primary by 11 am prompt.
“Accreditation of journalists and civil society organisations will also be at the Marque. Only accredited pressmen and media outfits will be allowed into the venue,” the guideline added.
The guidelines noted that all security agencies have been activated to ensure that these guidelines are strictly followed.
Meanwhile, there is heavy presence of security at the venue of the primary election, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.
Motorists had been barred from entering the stadium road as men of the Edo State Traffic Management Authority scrutinised every vehicle intending to use the road to gain entrance into the stadium.
Policemen were deployed along the road while many others were at the entrance of the stadium ensuring that only those who have business there were allowed in.
The state police spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the crises which occurred at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election on Saturday was an eye-opener and the police authority will no longer treat such election as just a party affair.
He said, “You could remember that we had just a little hitch of a particular party delegate election. That has been an eye-opener to Edo State Police Command that we should no longer see it as a party affair.
“The delegates are people with diverse interests, people with diverse behaviours, people with different attitudes and characters. So, this time around, we are going to ensure that the right thing is done and protect the lives and property of these party members.
“The Nigerian Police, Edo State Command is ready to ensure that there is a peaceful, hitch-free delegate election cutting across political parties in the state.\