Edo PDP crisis deepens as Senatorial candidate rejects fresh primary

The Edo North Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for the 2023 general elections in Edo state, Hon. Paschal Ugbome, has rejected the calls for the conduct of an alleged fresh primary election.

In a press statement on Saturday, Hon. Ugbome described the rumour of a fresh primary described as wicked and concocted.

He said, “My attention has been drawn to a concocted, wicked and malicious rumour making the rounds that a purported Supplementary Senatorial Primary has been ordered, supposedly by one National Official of our Party, PDP, to hold today for the Edo North Senatorial District.

“To the best of my knowledge and the leaders of our great party, this is a strange development and certainly not a decision of our Party even as its illegality smells to high heaven.

“Secondly, it has also been alleged in another breath that a certain Senator Alimikhena has paid me for the Ticket and that I have stepped down for him. That is A LIE FROM THE PIT OF HELL. I am a Lawyer and not a TRADER and I cannot trade away the Mandate which the honourable Edo North PDP Delegates gave to me on the 23rd of May, 2022.

He said for the avoidance of doubt, the same delegates who voted for him also voted for presidential candidate at the national convention.

“Consequently, let me reassure our teaming Supporters that I remain the duly Nominated Edo North PDP Candidate and flagbearer of the PDP for the seat of Senator representing Edo North in the forthcoming general Election slated for 2023. I look forward to vigorously campaigning and delivering victory to our Party at the 2023 Senatorial Election.