The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Senatorial Primaries held in Edo State have resulted in the death of a party chairman, Tunde Igbinoba and the destruction of over 20 choice automobiles in Benin City.
Information gathered by The Trumpet shows that the primaries which was held across the three senatorial districts of the state – South, Central and North – was done on factional/parallel levels as two contending groups, one loyal to the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, while the other group loyal to the party’s South-South Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, fight for relevance.
For the Edo South Primaries, the venue where the governor’s loyalists held theirs was the indoor hall of the ultra-modern Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. It was well secured with operatives of the security agencies and members of the state security network manning the venue outnumbering the delegates.
On the other hand, the venue of the primaries of the faction loyal to Chief Dan Orbih was not made public.
However, The Trumpet learnt that information about the venue of the Chief Orbih’s parallel primaries got to a top official of the state government who allegedly mobilised some gun-wielding miscreants to the place with the mission to disrupt the process.
Read Also: PDP submits results of Edo Assembly, House of Reps primary elections to INEC
On getting to the venue the gun-wielding miscreants allegedly let loose their weapon of destruction which end up in the killing of Mr Igbinoba said to be one of the party’s chairmen in Oredo Local Government Area and also massive destruction of properties and choice automobiles within the vicinity.
In the wake of the bedlam security operatives ended up arresting four reporters namely: Sunny Ohioze Inarumen of DAAR Communications owners of AIT/RayPower and his cameraman; Deborah Coker of the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN); Ogbomo Osamuyi of Independent Television/Radio. The newsmen were released hours later.
The results that emanated from the parallel primaries show that in the South Hon. Mathew Iduoriyekemwe emerged from Obaseki’s camp defeating incumbent Senator Mathew Urhoghide. While Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama was elected from the Chief Orbih’s camp.
In Edo North, Hon. Pascal Ugbome was elected from Chief Orbih’s group while Victoria Edelokun emerged from the governor’s group.
Edo Central, Architect Mike Onolemenme was elected from Chief Orbih’s group while incumbent Senator Clifford Ordia got elected from the governor’s camp.
