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.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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