By Emmanuel Iriogbe, Abuja
Two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State on Sunday simultaneously held parallel primaries at different locations across the state.
The primary election was conducted to elect candidates for the state assembly as well as the House of Representatives.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that from the faction loyal to Gov. Godwin Obaseki, only those who defected from the APC to the PDP had continued to emerge as winners without the presence of INEC monitoring team.
Similarly, from the camp loyal to Chief Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman, South South of the PDP, only the old PDP members emerged winners.
Officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the primaries by the faction loyal to the party’s National Vice Chairman, South South, but the same could not be said about the faction loyal to the governor.
A top state INEC official, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that same could not be said about the faction loyal to the governor as inec officials did not participate in the factional primary election of aspirants loyal to the Governor.
He said the party primaries can only be done by the list certified by INEC for the purpose.
He said, ”Elections were held to elect three ad hoc delegates.”
He added that only the ad hoc elected ward delegates can participate in this election and it was narrowed to those names recognised by inec.