Edo 2024 Guber Race: PDP N375m Richer

• As the sale of EOI, nomination forms closes
• 11 Aspirants jostle for party’s ticket on Feb 22
• Nomination forms at N30m per aspirant

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is certainly smiling to the bank for raking in about N265 million as proceeds from the sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest (EOI) forms to 11 Edo State governorship aspirants.

While the State’s ruling Party pegged the Nomination Forms at N30 million per aspirant and the Expression of Interest Form at N5 million, it however made the Expression of Interest (EOI) Form free for female aspirants as well as those who are physically challenged.

Going by the schedule released by the party, Thursday, January 25, 2024, was fixed as the deadline for the sale of both EOI and nomination forms with the party expected to conduct its primaries on Thursday, February 22 to elect its flag bearer for the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election.

The sale of forms commenced on January 17, 2024, with the Party scheduling Tuesday, January 27 as the deadline for aspirants to submit their completed forms.

As of Thursday afternoon, available information indicated that 11 aspirants had so far purchased and picked up the forms at the Wadata Plaza, which houses the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja. It was also gathered that among the aspirants are two female contestants, who paid N30 million each for their nomination forms having been exempted from paying for the EOI forms as directed by the party.

Insider sources at the Party Secretariat confirmed that aspirants who have purchased the forms include the embattled Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shuaibu; a former Chairman of Sterling Bank, Asue Ighodalo; and Blessing Igbinedion, daughter of Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

Others, also aspiring to take over at the Osadebe House from incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, are Anselm Usiose Ojezua, Omoregie Ihama, Umoru Hadizat, Felix Akhabue, and Martin Uhomoibhi.

Meanwhile, reports further indciate that the PDP may have adopted the indirect primary and approved adhoc delegates as the method to pick its governorship candidate that will square up with contestants from other political parties come Saturday, September 21, 2024 poll.

Forefront News also gathered that the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) is not interested in adopting the zoning formula for its ticket in Edo State with an inside source explaining that party members will elect delegates at ward and local government levels with these delegates moving to Benin, the state capital on February 22 to elect our party’s flag bearer

Also, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, has assured all aspirants of a level playing field, stating, “What the aspirants and Edo State stakeholders should expect from our party is a free, fair, credible, and acceptable primary that the PDP is known for.”

On the state of the party’s readiness to keep the Edo State government House after September 21 election, Ologunagba assured that the PDP is putting its house in order to ensure that opposition parties do not poach members who may be agrieved after the primary election.

According to him; “The PDP is well prepared for the primaries, and we are working hard to ensure a fair process and that there will be no rancour that could eventually affect our electoral victory come September this year.”

APC Rakes in N250m

In a related development, ahead of the January 29 deadline for the sale of forms by the All Progressives Congress, the party has garnered N250m from the sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest forms to five aspirants for the Edo election.

The APC is selling its EOI and Nomination forms for N10m and N40m, respectively. Available information shows that those who have already purchased the forms are immediate past former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba; former Chairman of the APC Edo State, Dr. David Imuse; and Emmanuel Momoh.

Another known name in the race is Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a two-term governorship candidate for both PDP and APC; as well as Senator Monday Okpebholo.

Going by the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC has fixed 17th February 2024 for the primary election to pick its flag bearer for the September 21, 2024 poll.