The primaries for aspirants interested in the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP) for the July 14, 2012 gubernatorial election in Edo state will hold on February 18th, 2012.
This was disclosed by the publicity secretary of the party in the state,? Mr. Matthew Urhoghide.
Addressing newsmen in Benin City,? Urhoghide said that? the PDP? was committed to reclaiming the State which it lost in 2008 to the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) and hence was leaving no stone unturned in this regard.
He condemned insinuation by some aspirants that the State Executive Committee of the party had resolved to give the ticket to an aspirant from Edo South contrary to expectations that there would be a level playing feild for all aspirants, and added that, “the governorship ticket can go to any senatorial district”.
He said the state party led by Chief Dan Osi Orbih and the other leaders of the party in the state are committed to a level playing feild hence all of them were invited to be part of the ongoing tour of the 192 wards of the state by the party.
According to Urhoghide:? “the party Exco is not favouring any aspirant, and if any aspirant is saying so, that aspirant is making a wicked claim, such claim is irresponsible and mischievous”.
He said? there was no indication? that the primaries would be? manipulated and added that the party leadership cannot be manipulated by anybody.
He also said that ahead of the primaries, all serious aspirants are expected to collect both the statement of intent and nomination forms for the ticket which the national secretariat of the party had put at N5.5million.
Among the 10 aspirants for the PDP ticket expected at the primaries are Major-general Charles Airhiavbere( rtd), former Commandant Nigerian Army Corp of Finance and Accounts, former Governor, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor, former Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC) Commissioner, Mr. Mathew Iduoriyekemen, lawyer and educationist, Barrister Ken Imansuagbon and former Presidential Adviser, Professor Julius Ihonvbere.