Ahead of the September 2023 Edo State governorship election, the incumbent Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu, has demanded that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) issue him with certificate of return having legitimately won the gubernatorial primary held last week.
Shaibu, who was at the National Secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), insisted that he should be given the party’s certificate of return.
Speaking at the party’s Secretariat yesterday, 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.”
Shaibu was reported to have emerged the winner of the parallel governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
The primary election won by Shaibu was a factional one.
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).
Shaibu’s governorship primary was reportedly held at his residence in Benin City, the state capital.
Bartholomew Moses, the returning officer 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 arrived at the lawn tennis court of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, were reportedly denied access.
The delegates subsequently moved to Shaibu’s residence where the election was held.
It is not clear yet whether his party, the PDP would grant Shaibu his request and issue him the certificate of return of the governorship primary and consequently present him as the candidate of the party for the Edo State governorship election.
