Incumbent Reps lose PDP primary in Edo

Two serving members in the Federal House of
Representatives on Saturday failed to clinch the tickets to
contest the 2015 election into the lower chamber during the
Peoples Democratic Party primary held across the nine
federal constituencies in Edo State.
Although the scene of the primary in some of the venue
was peaceful, with presence of security operatives, the
exercise, however, did not begin until about 11:30am in
most of the constituencies.
The member representing Esan West, Esan Central and
Igueben federal constituency and Chairman House
Committee on Power, Mr. Patrick Ikhariale; and Mr.
Friday Itulah, representing Esan South East and Esan
North East.
Ikhariale scored 20 votes, another aspirant, Mr. Felix
Agbabue had 39 votes while Mr. Joe Edionwele got 64
votes to emerge the party’s flag bearer.
Two-time lawmaker and member, House Committee on
Federal Capital Territory and the Millennium
Development Goals, Itulah, lost to Mr. Sergius Ogun’s
55 votes, having scored 31 votes.
In Oredo federal constituency, Mr. Omoregie Ogbeide-
Ihiama secured the party’s ticket with a total of 23 votes,
while Mr. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma won in Ikpoba
Okha/Egor constituency.
Other winners include Lawrence Ogieva (Orhionmwon/
Uhunmwode), Bankole Balogun (Akoko Edo) and
Johnson Abolagba (Owan) while Abass Brama defeated
Hussein Garba by one vote to emerge winner in Etsako
federal constituency.
Omosede Igbinedion, daughter of the Esama of Benin
kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, was declared winner
of the primary in Ovia federal constituency.
However, three of the aspirants in the contest, Etinosa
Onaiwu, Osayemwenre Edosa and Kelvin Aigbe, have
protested the emergence of Igbinedion in the primary held
in Iguobazua.
The aggrieved aspirants, in a petition personally signed by
them and addressed to the State Chairman, Chief Dan
Orbih, described the primary as “unwholesome and
wanton disregard for the democratic process.”
They alleged that Igbinedion was imposed on them by
leaders of the party from Ovia North East and Ovia
South West and the Edo South Senatorial Leader, who
suppressed their last-minute consultations with the
delegates.
The three aspirants, who were not seen at the venue of
the primary, explained that they decided to boycott the
exercise because “to participate in a process which outcome
has been pre-determined will be fruitless and giving
legitimacy to the imposition of a candidate and the coercion
of delegates.”
Although the state chairman could not be reached for
comments, the Chairman of the PDP National Assembly
primary in the state, Olusola Oke, told newmen that the
primary was orderly and described all the aspirants as
winners.
On her part, Igbinedion, told journalists that no one was
coerced in the primary.
While appealing to the petitioners not to be aggrieved, she
said, “Although no one was coerced to back down, I will
appeal to them not to be aggrieved. I will definitely visit
them.”