By Milcah Tanimu

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has made an appearance at the National Secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), asserting his right to receive his certificate of return.

Addressing the media, Shaibu stated, “Today is the designated day for the collection of the certificate of return for the primary winner. I understand someone came yesterday and was given, well, the court will decide…”

However, it’s worth noting that the Edo governorship primaries held on February 22, 2023, resulted in two candidates, Philip Shaibu and Asue Ighodalo, emerging as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidates.

Shaibu was declared the winner with 301 votes in one primary, while Ighodalo won another with 577 votes at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

The declaration of Shaibu as the winner was made by a group of delegates during the primary, held at a building on Commercial Avenue, amidst allegations of discrepancies in the accreditation process.

Meanwhile, the governorship primary committee, headed by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, reported a different outcome, with Ighodalo securing 577 votes and Shaibu receiving one vote.

The conflicting reports from the primaries have sparked controversy, with Shaibu’s visit to the PDP headquarters signaling his insistence on being recognized as the party’s authentic candidate.