Ighodalo said he didn’t instigate or fund Shaibu’s impeachment.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Media Office.

A few weeks ago, Shaibu was impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly. This followed his face-off with the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

However, Shaibu had recently alleged that Ighodalo was involved in his impeachment.

The statement by Ighodalo’s Media Office reads, “While we would not usually join issues in response to every passing comment, it has become imperative to address the recent spurious allegations by former Deputy Governor Phillip Shaibu.

“It is necessary, for the record, to state in no uncertain terms that Mr Asue Ighodalo has had no role or involvement in any form whatsoever in the very public process leading to Mr Shuaibu’s impeachment and subsequent removal from office by the Edo State House of Assembly.

“These claims are completely without merit, and Mr Ighodalo categorically denies any such involvement. These allegations are a clear attempt to unjustly tarnish his reputation and divert attention from the actual issues at hand.

“We urge the public and the media to regard these false statements with well deserved skepticism. Asue Ighodalo remains focused on running a governorship campaign based on issues, and devoid of distractions.”

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Shaibu, the deputy governor of the state, said this at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday.

On Thursday, the returning officer in the PDP governorship primary and Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, announced Asue Ighodalo as the winner of the delegate election, having polled a total of 577 votes.

However, in the parallel primaries that took place at the Benin residence of the Deputy Governor, the returning officer, Bartholomew Moses, declared Shaibu the winner, saying he won “with over 300 votes.”

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Shaibu described himself as the authentic candidate, noting that the primary that produced Ighodalo was nothing short of a social party attended by “people who wore Aso Ebi from all over the place.”

Shaibu, who defected to the PDP alongside the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, in 2020 from the All Progressives Congress, said his office has been subjected to all manner of degrading treatment by the governor, adding however that he is the man to win the election for the PDP.

He said, “Even as we speak, my team has been calling me that, ‘Look at what these people are doing. They are saying they are going to impeach you, that you have gotten too far.’ They are threatening to impeach me.

“And I said, well, if fighting for my rights and all of us collectively triggers my impeachment, so be it.”

Shaibu, who described Ighodalo as “my far elder brother,” however, urged the PDP to know that the lawyer-turned-politician does not have what it takes to win the poll.

“If the party wants to win the election, they will not go for Ighodalo. If the party wants to win the election, the people have spoken, and they have spoken very loud and clearly.

“If people can stand bullets to say this is who we want, then the party should follow that direction,” he added.

The deputy governor also said that he has appointed former APC Deputy Chairman, Edo State Chapter, Pastor Kenneth Asekomhe, to chair a committee to reach out to Ighodalo’s camp to forge a common front for the PDP in the election.

“He is the chairman of the committee that I have set up to reach out to the Ighodalo group for us to have a discussion to see how we will go because it is only him that is not on board,” he further said.

Shaibu also said he is working with the National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dan Orbih.

“The leader of the legacy coalition is Dan Orbih. We are working together and that is why it is important that Asue (Ighodalo) join the legacy coalition because the coalition is those that were in APC that moved to PDP to meet those that were already in PDP.

“Those that were in PDP that we met are the legacy. The coalition now is that we joined the old PDP moving together because we don’t want to hear new and old PDP and that is why we call it a legacy coalition,” Shaibu stated.

On whether the Independent National Electoral Commission monitored the primary election that produced him, Shaibu spoke affirmatively without going into details.

“INEC and the party were there but I will not disclose a lot. If we don’t go to court, fine. But if we do go to court, all this information will be unveiled,” he threatened.

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

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

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

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

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Ighodalo, a lawyer, said nobody can impose a governorship candidate on the people of Edo state.

The lawyer said Obaseki is a friend, who he has known since 1977, and not a political godfather.

“Nobody can impose anybody on the people of Edo state. It is impossible. Governor Obaseki is not my political godfather. He is my friend.

“I have known him since 1977. We have been friends and we respect each other tremendously,” he said.

ON THE PARALLEL PRIMARY

Ighodalo said he is not worried about the parallel primary election in which Shaibu was declared winner.

The lawyer said the PDP followed due process and the constitution of the party in the conduct of the primary election.

He added that the primary election that led to his emergence was the authentic one backed by the national working committee (NWC) of the PDP.

“I think we (PDP) went through the proper process of the party,” he said.

“I was not aware that anything else was happening anywhere in the state. This is the authentic process of the party in accordance with the constitution. I’m not worried.

“I’m a lawyer. We do things by the book, in accordance with the rule of law. There is nothing to worry about. I don’t think the rules were broken. I observed that the guidelines and the constitution were followed.”

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Shaibu, a former member of the House of Representatives, was declared the winner by Moses Batholomew in his official residence on Commercial Avenue, near Government House in the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin, with 301 of the 563 PDP’s authentic delegates’ votes in Edo.

Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer, emerged as the standard bearer at the shadow poll that took place at the Lawn Tennis Court of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

Shortly after Shaibu’s declaration as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Edo, armed thugs, including members of the Edo State Vigilance Service, were mobilised to the venue and started shooting sporadically.

But Shaibu and his teeming supporters escaped while the hoodlums continued to shoot at their vehicles, with many allies of the Edo Deputy Governor injured.

Edo Deputy Governor, in an acceptance speech, dedicated his victory to God Almighty, his teeming supporters, and the good people of the South South State.

As of the time of Shaibu’s declaration, the loyalists of Obaseki were about voting at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for Ighodalo while the consensus aspirant of Chief Dan Orbih-led Legacy Coalition in PDP, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a former member of the House of Representatives, decided to withdraw from the skewed race.

When contacted, mobile lines of Shaibu’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebomhiana Musa were not available, while text and WhatsApp messages had not been replied as of press time

Ighodalo polled 577 votes to beat Anselm Ojezua, Arthur Esele, Osaro Onaiwu, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru and  Felix Akhabue, who all scored zero, while Shaibu with six votes was declared void out of the 585 accredited delegates.

One of the governorship aspirants, Omosede Igbinedion, the daughter of the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Sir Gabriel Igbimedion, withdrew from the race at the stadium.

The Chief Returning Officer of the Edo PDP governorship primary election committee, Dauda Lawal, who is the Governor of Zamfara State, noted that members of the committee, having carefully sorted and  counted the votes, found that  Ighodalo scored 577 votes.

Lawal was assisted by Delta Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator James Manager, who were the Vice Chairman and Secretary  of the committee respectively.

Ighodalo, in his acceptance speech, thanked Edo Governor and the entire people of the State for their love and support.

He said: “I want to thank you for making me a tool, and I promise you that I will be a useful tool, and by the grace of God, Edo State will move from where Obaseki has carried us, to the next level.

“I want to thank Obaseki for the wonderful work he has done in the last seven and a half years. I know that in a year or two, people will keep talking about Obaseki. We have not seen the value of the work he has done, but he is like a builder laying the foundation for a hundred story building.

“No man is perfect. We will all  continue to repair and work on one another’s mistakes.”

Ighodalo also promised to put in his best in the service of Edo State and its residents if elected on September 21.

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The primary, holding at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, is expected to produce the PDP governorship candidate for the forthcoming September 21 governorship election in the state.

The 10 PDP aspirants 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.

A party guideline released on Wednesday by the 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.

The Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, said the party was ready to conduct a free, fair and credible primary election that will be a reference for future primary elections in the country.

He said, “What the NWC (National Working Committee) and the party owe the aspirants is to ratify the results of the delegate elections, which they have done and the list of delegates has been given to all the aspirants to enable them to have access to the delegates and start lobbying them before the primary election.

“Once the party does that, I don’t know what else any aspirant will want. What we know is that the list will never be altered and it is those on that list that will vote on the day of the primary election. I also enjoin our members to conduct themselves well so we can have a hitch-free primary election.”

Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has described last Saturday’s delegate primary election of the All Progressives Congress, as an eye-opener for it, saying would no longer treat such election as just a party affair.

The APC primary election ended in a crisis as it produced three ‘winners’.

The party is set to conduct a fresh primary today (Thursday).

The police spokesman in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, while speaking to journalists, said, “You could remember that we had a little hitch with a particular party delegates election. That has been an eye-opener for the Edo State Police Command; that we should no longer see it as a party affair.

“They 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 properties of these party members.”

The post Shaibu, Ighodalo, others jostle for 563 Edo PDP delegates’ votes appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Ighodalo is seeking the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State in the February 22, 2024, primary election.

It was gathered that Obaseki’s peace moves were informed by the reality of a strong opposition from Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a former member of the House of Representatives and the preferred candidate of Dan Orbih, Wike’s key ally in Edo State

Obaseki’s decision to meet with Wike, his erstwhile political enemy, was just a necessary step he had to take to clear the way for his candidate since the minister appears to be gearing up for a political battle with the governor.

Although Ighodalo has expressed confidence in winning the party’s ticket, going into the primary against Ogbeide-Ihama and Obaseki’s deputy, Phillip Shaibu is viewed in Obaseki’s camp as a delicate game.

According to the deal offered by Obaseki, Ighodalo would be willing to pick Ogbeide-Ihama as his running mate.

A source privy to the meeting, stated that Obaseki sought “reconciliation” and apologised for previous misunderstanding between them.

But Wike, who apparently has been waiting for Obaseki, reportedly told him point-blank that he would not have any dealings with him because he is not known to have kept faith with anyone that assisted him in the past.

The Cable reported that he then demanded a “level-playing field so that the most acceptable candidate can win.”

Obaseki fell out with Wike in 2020 shortly after defecting to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and securing his new party’s governorship ticket to run for a second term.

He had left the APC after a face-off with Adams Oshiomhole, who decided to back Ize Iyamu, formerly of the PDP, in the 2020 governorship election. Of course, Obaseki won his re-election bid but fell out with Wike thereafter.

In the presidential primary of the PDP ahead of the 2023 general election, Obaseki backed Abubakar Atiku against Wike for the ticket.

It is not clear if Wike will accept Obaseki’s olive branch, which is said to be facilitated by the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri.

The post Obaseki’s support for Ighodalo faces threat appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Ighodalo is seeking the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State in the February 22, 2024, primary election.

The meeting took place at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Abuja and was attended by Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa State, who came with Obaseki.

RECONCILIATION MOVE

There is also a challenge from Philip Shaibu, the current deputy governor.

Although Ighodalo has expressed confidence in winning the party’s ticket, going into the primary against Ogbeide-Ihama and Shaibu is viewed in Obaseki’s camp as a delicate game.

At the meeting with Wike, Obaseki was said to have sought “reconciliation” and apologised for previous misunderstandings between them.

Ighodalo would be willing to pick Ogbeide-Ihama as his running mate, according to the deal offered by Obaseki.

Wike reportedly told him point-blank that he would not have any dealings with him as he is not known to have kept faith with anyone that assisted him in the past.

The former governor of Rivers state demanded a “level-playing field so that most acceptable candidate can win,” sources in the know told NewMailNG

THE BACKGROUND

Obaseki fell out with Wike in 2020, shortly after defecting to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and securing his new party’s governorship ticket to run for a second term.

He had left the APC after a face-off with Adams Oshiomhole, who decided to back Ize Iyamu, formerly of the PDP, in the 2020 governorship election.

Obaseki won his re-election bid but fell out with Wike thereafter.

In the presidential primary of the PDP ahead of the 2023 general election, Obaseki backed Abubakar Atiku against Wike for the ticket.

After Atiku controversially won the presidential primary, Wike led a group of five governors, named G5, to work against the party’s candidate.

Although officially still in the PDP, Wike is now a minister in the APC government led by President Bola Tinubu.

The post Obaseki moves to mend fences with Wike ahead of Edo guber primary appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Ighodalo, while addressing a crowd of supporters in Benin as part of his ongoing state-wide tour, stated that he had proven track records and the capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy.

Calling for their support ahead of the party’s primary election, the PDP frontline aspirant assured that his nomination and subsequent election would bring development to Edo State and guarantee a better future for the people.

He noted that, in terms of capacity and experience, he stood tall among other aspirants while pleading with the PDP members to nominate him to fly the party’s flag.

“This is because Oredo over the years, has remained the heartbeat of Edo State and, by extension, Nigeria. My administration, if elected into office with your support, will transform Edo to become the number one state in Africa in the area of all-round development.

“We must join hands together to make Edo greater, as one individual cannot do it alone. The issue of security will be given priority in the state because, without it, there will not be meaningful development in Edo.

“Without security, investors will not come to the state. I want to use this opportunity to beg our youths to stop fighting or killing one another, as we are one people. We must secure lives and property in Edo State. It is when we are secure that we can get jobs and development.

“When you see a stranger with questionable character, report such a person to the security agencies, because collectively, we must secure our state, as security agencies cannot do it alone.

“Please, let us nominate the aspirant who can develop Edo State. Someone with proven track records and the capacity. Not one will be coming to experiment with the state, and this is where I stand tall among other aspirants for this election.”

Responding on behalf of the PDP leaders and members in Oredo LGA, a chieftain, Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin, informed that the people had decided to unanimously adopt Ighodalo as their consensus aspirant for the primary election.

Idah said, “We are going to support and work for Ighodalo to become the next governor of Edo State. The leaders and members of the PDP in Oredo LGA have adopted you, Asue Ighodalo, as our sole aspirant for the governorship primary election in Edo.”

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The Independent National Electoral Commission fixed September 21, 2024, for the Edo State governorship election.

Additional aspirants who underwent screening were Felix Akhabue, the former chairman of Esan West Local Government Area; Ojezua, the former chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State; Omosede Igbinedion, a former member of the House of Representatives; along with Arthur Esene, Prof Martin Uhomoibh, and Osaro Onaiwu.

The screening panel’s Chairman and Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, while addressing aspirants in Abuja, on Monday reassured aspirants that the party will ensure fairness for all contestants and emphasized the PDP’s commitment to winning the governorship poll.

Mutfwang advised the governorship aspirants to keep in mind that only one of them would ultimately become the opposition party’s candidate.

“I want to assure you that we will give all the support we can to ensure that PDP retains Edo State. Ultimately it is only one person that will emerge. If we believe that it is God that gives power, then it is not today neither is it on the election day that God is going to determine who will govern. He has already determined.

“But we as humans don’t yet know, that is why these processes are ongoing. We appreciate the concerns that you have expressed, putting in place a level playing field, we are going to be strong advocates of that and ensure that at the end of the day, we have a process that is transparent, a process that is fair. I am a beneficiary of that process. That when all is said and done, we will still work together as one big family, ” the governor stated.

Addressing reporters, Onaiwu emphasized the significance of the PDP implementing a reward system for dedicated party members to enhance the opposition party’s prospects in the upcoming poll.

He said, “Winning Edo is a priority to the party, winning Edo is a must-win for PDP, we cannot allow Edo to slip to the hands of the APC. I have told everyone to drop their ego and support whoever emerges as the PDP candidate for Edo State as long as the process is free, fair, and transparent.”

The post Edo Poll: PDP screens Shaibu, Ighodalo, others appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Ikimi emphasized that these consultations included meetings with 22 traditional rulers, numerous PDP leaders, and other stakeholders in the Edo Central senatorial district.

The governorship aspirants in Edo Central senatorial district consulted by the committee were Senator Clifford Ordia, John Yakubu, Martin Uhumoibhi, Friday Itulah, Anselm Ojezua, Marcus Onobun, and Asue Ighodalo.

Ikimi disclosed that Felix Akhabue, who was not one of the seven aspirants, sent an apology to the committee while stating that he was in Northern Nigeria at the time of the consultation.

He pointed out that Ighodalo was chosen as Edo Central senatorial district’s sole aspirant for the party’s governorship primary election on February 22, 2024, following his overwhelming support from co-aspirants and stakeholders in the district.

The chairman of the special committee, while presenting the report to the Chairman of Edo Central PDP Caucus/Senatorial PDP Chairman, Archbishop Anthony Okosun, stated that the committee’s members were given the mandate to meet and interact with governorship aspirants in Edo Central with a view to screening and recommending the best aspirant for the senatorial caucus for adoption.

He disclosed that members of the committee, who commenced sitting with the tour of the five local government areas in Esanland/Edo Central senatorial district on November 15, 2023, concluded their mission on January 10, 2024, after sitting six times.

The PDP’s national leader also urged members of the party in Edo Central and other parts of Edo State to continue to give peace a chance and shun violence ahead of the September 21, 2024, crucial governorship poll.

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