The crisis in the PDP took a dramatic twist on Wednesday as Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu stormed the party secretariat, demanding the issue of a certificate of return for winning the Edo PDP gubernatorial primary election.
Shaibu, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports, had emerged as the standard bearer for the upcoming Sept. 21 Edo governorship elections at a parallel primary held on Feb. 22 in Benin.
NAN also reports that Mr. Asue Ighodalo, equally as the candidate of the party in another primary held the same day in the same city,.
NAN further reports that Ighodalo was issued the certificate of return on Monday by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC).
The PDP acting National Chairman, Malam Umar Damagum, presented the certificate to Ighodalo at a ceremony at the party’s National Secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Zone 5 Wuse, Abuja.
Damagum, while presenting the certificate, said that the party was united in its drive to retain the Edo governor’s seat.
According to him, “PDP is one, and the party organised and recognised only the primary election, which took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin and produced Ighodalo as its candidate.’’
Surprisingly, Shaibu came to the party secretariat, insisting he was the authentic winner of the party primary for the election and should be issued the certificate of return.
He said it was not a surprise that he came for the certificate, as the PDP guidelines for Edo 2024 governorship primary had approved Feb. 28 for the issuance of the certificate.
“The reason I am here is to obey the guidelines to come and receive the certificate of return, and I was told that somebody else came yesterday and was given the certificate.
“I think the court will tell among us who is the real candidate, but I am here in fulfillment of the electoral guidelines of the PDP to receive my certificate.
“I have a document here where those that conducted the primary submitted the same to the office of the National Organising Secretary. From this document, you will see the mess that took place in Edo.
“This primary cannot be put aside. I am ready for us to correct the abnormalities in the party’s internal democracy because that is the beginning of the sustenance of democracy in the country.
According to him, if the party does not get it right, the foundation of our democracy is already threatened.
“We will not fold our hands and watch what we laboured for be destroyed. Some people died in the process,’’ he said.
Shaibu, who alleged that the party’s primary was compromised from the onset, demanded that all observed abnormalities be corrected.
He also alleged that those who conducted his faction’s primary election submitted their report, but unfortunately, they were being threatened to rewrite another report.
“This is a committee that was put together by the NWC. If the PDP is serious and ready to win Edo, they must do what is right.
“I am telling our members in Edo not to be worried; we will get to the promised land.
“Edo will be the place where we will reset how internal democracy can be strengthened so that the foundation of democracy is not destroyed,’’ he said.
Shaibu said he had earlier informed party leaders that he would go for his certificate of return but was surprised that none of them were in the office except secretariat staff.
“I don’t know why they are not here. That is strange,’’ he said.
Shaibu said he would have no option but to go to court if the party leaders refused to issue him the certificate of return as the party‘s candidate.
According to him, if the party’s internal mechanisms are followed, there will be no need to go to court.
“But if the party is not ready to listen, the next line of action will be the judiciary, but I pray we don’t get there, and that is why I came here today,’’ he said.(NAN)
