Protests mar Edo PDP primaries

Charles Airhiavbere

•Major-General Airhiavbere emerges winner

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State yesterday protested the emergence of former Commander, Corps of Army Finance and Accounts, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, as the candidate of the party in the forth coming governorship election.

Airhiavbere emerged PDP candidate after scoring 403 votes to defeat his closest rival, Barr. Kenneth Imasuangbon, who secured 178 votes.
He won in 16 out of 18 local government councils in the state.
Other aspirants who contested for the PDP ticket include Prof. Julius Ihonvbere with 24 votes; Prof Oserheimen Osunbor scored 22 votes while Matthew Iduoriyikemwen had 94 votes.

Many of the aggrieved members shouted ‘PDP Ole, PDP Ole’ before the announcement of the results.
They left pouring invectives on the leadership of the party.
The aspirants neither shook hands nor congratulated Airhiavbere; they left angrily.
First to leave was Imasuangbon.
He simply told Journalists that "We don’t have a process".
Prof. Ihonvbere and Prof. Osunbor later left but said they will issue press statements at a later date.
Chairman of the electoral panel, Barr. Newson Nwike said the voting process would lead to PDP winning the July 14th governorship election.
Nwike said, "I hereby declare Airhiavbere winner of the election and he is the candidate of the PDP in the next election."
State Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih congratulated the aspirants for putting up a fierce contest, adding that the results shown that PDP was the party to beat.
In his speech, Airhiavbere called on other aspirants to join him in reclaiming Edo State for the PDP.

He assured PDP members that he would work hard to win the elections.