PDP primaries: Controversy trails as winners emerge

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The Lagos State chapter of the PDP urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to cancel the House of Assembly and House of Representatives primaries. Chairman of the party, Mr. Philips Aivoji, made the call at a briefing, accompanied by other state exco members and governorship aspirants. Aivoji said the ad-hoc delegates’ lists brought by the electoral committee for both primaries had been compromised.

In Delta, gunmen numbering over ten invaded the Anglican Girl’s Grammar School, Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area, venue of the PDP House of Assembly primary. They stormed the venue in three Toyota Sienna vans shortly after results had been declared, shooting into the air.

The contest for PDP Ethiope Federal Constituency ended in a tie after the incumbent, Rollands Igbakpa and Erhiatake Suenu-Ibori polled 34 votes each.

Orode Uduaghan, daughter to former Delta Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, lost the PDP Warri North Constituency primary to Fred Martins.

Uduaghan, who scored seven votes, lost to Fred Martins who polled 25 votes.

Former Managing Director, Delta State Oil Producing and Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Askia Ogieh, lost the PDP Isoko Federal Constituency primaries to Jonathan Ukodhiko who polled 33 votes to beat Askia with 21 votes.

In Niger, ten out of 26 constituencies turned in the election results before 8pm. The Niger PDP Director of Special Duties, Rahina Ibrahim, sent a notice to all electoral officers that the collation of results would resume at 8am today. There was the late arrival of electoral officers and the disruption of activities by thugs in many LGAs.

In Akwa Ibom, the primaries produced the PDP candidates for the 26 state constituencies and 10 federal constituencies.The exercises, which began at about 1pm due to late arrival of materials, was peaceful.

In Ogun, late arrival of materials and absence of them in some centres characterized the primaries.

The primaries in Oyo were trailed by criticism and discontentment. While the intra-party election held peacefully in some centres, the situation was volatile in some others.