-Visits party office for certificate of Return

After a controversial election that produced the deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in the upcoming Edo governorship election, the deputy governor, today arrived the PDP’s headquarters, demanding to be issued a certificate of return.

Shaibu, who is currently at the National Secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), insisted that he should be given the party’s certificate of return, saying he legitimately won the gubernatorial primary held last week.

Speaking at the party’s Secretariat, the embattled deputy governor said: “Today is the day set aside for the collection of certificate of return for the winner of the primary. I understand someone came yesterday and was given. Well, the court will decide.”

The deputy governor emerged the winner of the parallel governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state conducted at his residence in Benin City, the state capital.

However, Asue Ighodalo, a businessman was declared winner of another PDP Edo gubernatorial election which was observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

The returning officer, Bartholomew Moses, who announced Shaibu as the winner of the primary election, said the deputy governor won the exercise with over 300 votes.

Some party delegates who were denied access after arrivinh at the lawn tennis court of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City,  subsequently moved to Shaibu’s residence where the election was held.

As of the time of filing this report, it was not clear whether the party, PDP would grant Shaibu his request and issue him the certificate of return of the governorship primary and consequently the candidate of the party for the Edo State governorship election.