Nine governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State have denounced the validity of the party’s delegates’ election conducted in the state on Sunday. 

According to Tribune Online, they asserted that Governor Seyi Makinde’s absence as the committee chairman signified a compromised process.

Addressing reporters late on Sunday, the aspirants alleged that the lack of oversight by Governor Makinde, who chaired the committee, led to Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State assuming control, a decision they deemed an act of impunity by the PDP National Working Committee.

Speaking on behalf of the nine aspirants, Anslem Ojezua revealed that Governor Mbah had contacted the deputy governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, indicating his arrival in Benin and awaiting Governor Kefas of Taraba.

Ojezua explained that Mbah had requested to meet all ten aspirants for a briefing before commencing the congress. However, as of 5 pm, the aspirants had not received communication from Governor Mbah and his team, nor had access to the 5-man panel comprising 2 state governors.

He said, “Between Friday and today (Sunday), we have seen three different ad-hoc electoral committee lists, first was the one that had His Excellency Seyi Makinde as Chairman, and Senator Manu as Secretary.

“A day after, we had yet another list with Seyi Makinde as chairman and one Pascal Adigwe as Secretary. Today (Sunday), we had yet a different list with Peter Mbah as chairman and Pascal Adigwe as secretary.

“We do know that the very first one must have been the one approved by the national working committee. We are reliably informed that the National Working Committee has not met since the last time they approved that list. Now we do not even know which one is which.”

Speaking further, he said “Yesterday (Saturday), we wrote to Seyi Makinde about the observation we made and we were assured that they will provide us with a level playing field, and it was agreed that those who are going to officiate are going to be members of PDP from outside of Edo state.

“But we found that contrary to the list the party sent to INEC, another list was flying around with a prominent list of government officials from the Edo state government to perform very sensitive assignments in relation to this process.

“What is even worse is that the committee has not even arrived in Benin; we were later informed that he (Governor Seyi Makinde) has declined his appointment.”

Ojezua added: “It was only today (Sunday), that we were informed that Governor Mbah is now to take the position of the chairman. Governor Mbah didn’t come to Benin until this afternoon.

“We have been waiting for the committee to have the traditional meeting with us as stakeholders and aspirants. This congress is being organised for and as we speak nobody has invited us, we just heard a rumour.”