TWO candidates have emerged from two parallel primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held on Thursday, February 22 for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State.

The two candidates, incumbent Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, and Asue Ighodalo, said to be the choice of Governor Godwin Obaseki, emerged victorious from primaries held in Benin City, the state capital.

While Shaibu was declared winner with 300 votes at one venue, Ighodalo polled 577 votes out of the 585 delegates accredited to vote from 594 delegates elected to participate in the exercise at another primary held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, conducted by the party’s governorship primary committee, led by Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.

Shaibu secured one vote, Anselm Ojezua, Osaro Onaiwu, Felix Akhabue, Martins Uhomoibhi, Hadizat Umoru, Arthur Esele scored zero votes, while Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and Omosede Igbinedion withdrew from the race. Lawal said six votes were voided.