Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Edo state governorship primary scheduled for February 22, 2024, eight governorship aspirants have submmited their nomination forms to battle for the party ticket.
The party had fixed January 27 as the last day for the submission of already completed nomination form.
While eleven person picked expression of interest forms, eight (8) aspirants eventually picked the nomination forms. The eight persons, according to the party, are the ones qualified to contest the primary.
While the price of expression of interest form was fixed for N5 million, the nomination form was sold for N30 million.
From calculation, the PDP made N55 million from 11 persons, who bought the expression of interest form and N180 million from nomination form. The two females among the eight aspirants only paid for the expression of interest form.
The name of aspirants, who picked the expression of interest form are; Barr. Omosede Igbenedion, Anslem Ojezua, Asuerinme Ighodalo, Hon. Felix Akhabue, Comrade Philip Shaibu and Authur Esene.
Others are; Omoregie Ogbedei Ihima, Amb. Prof. Martins Uhomoibhi, Balogun Sunday, Osaro Onaiwu and Umoru Hadizat.
The eight aspirants, who bought and completed the nomination form are; Camrade Philip Shaibu, Anslem Ojezua, Hon. Felix Akhabue, Asuerinme Ighodalo, Amb. Martins Uhomoibhi, Barr. Omosede Igbenedion, Umoru Hadizat and Omoregie Ogbedei Ihima.
These are the names made available to our correspondent by the party.
However, the Plateau state governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, will on the 29th of January leads the committee that will screen the governorship aspirants for Edo state governorship election.
While governorship primary is scheduled to hold on February 22, 2024, to determine the party flagbearer, the election will be holding on September 21, 2024.
The PDP, in a statement signed by its National Organizing Secretary, Hon. Umar Nature, appointed seven members for the screening committee.
While the Plateau state governor, Mutfwang is appinted as the Chairman of the screening committee, Hon. Aminu Shagari, Erelu Olusola Obada and four others were made members of the committee.
The statement reads: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the PDP, has approved your nomination to serve on the Screening Committee for the purpose of screening all the Gubernatorial Aspirants for the upcoming Governorship Primary Election in Edo State.”
Meanwhile, the PDP has told the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio to perish the thought of taking over control of Akwa Ibom State in 2027 as the scheme to use false claims and inciting comments to destabilize the State has already failed.
The Party, in a statement by its spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, counseled the Senate President to come to terms with the fact that the people of Akwa Ibom State are firmly rooted in the PDP as a peaceful and united people blessed by God especially under the immediate past and current administration.
“They cannot be swayed by any agent of disunity, incitement, hatred and retrogression whose intention is to use propaganda and hate speeches to derail and appropriate the State for selfish interest,” the party said.
The said that the boast by Senator Akpabio to take over Akwa Ibom State in 2027 is not only pathetically empty but further exposes his level of arrogance and disdain for the sensibility, intelligence, democratic right and sovereignty of the people of Akwa Ibom State.
“Our Party advices Senator Akpabio to leave Akwa Ibom State alone and focus on the challenges of his office as Senate President which is alleged to be engaged in process manipulation and sharp practices including alleged budget padding and diversion of public funds.
“Senator Akpabio should address the allegations in the public domain that a prominent official of the National Assembly in connivance with another top official in the Presidency have been using ministers and other government functionaries to siphon billions of Naira including funds meant for palliatives for poor Nigerians under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“Nigerians can recall that there are pending investigations before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegation of looting of N108.1 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom State under Senator Akpabio’s watch as Governor as well as alleged N86 billion contract scam in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
“These are funds belonging to and meant for the welfare of the people of Akwa Ibom State and the Niger Delta Region and our Party challenges the Senate President to immediately come clean and clear the air on these allegations, especially given the sanctity of the office which he now occupies.
“Senator Akpabio should note that the office of the Senate President does not confer any form of immunity on him from investigation and/or prosecution. In any event, he must know that time does not run against the State in criminal matters,” the party said.
The party cautioned Senator Akpabio to as a matter of public duty, concentrate on attending to the plethora of allegations of corruption around him to justify the respect and integrity expected of the occupier of the office of the Senate President.
The PDP urged the people of Akwa Ibom State to disregard Senator Akpabio’s antics and remain united in their determination to continue to build their State under the banner of the PDP.
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