The Edo State Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Hilary Otsu has warned accredited delegates to keep away from the different venues of the party’s primaries which start Sunday.
Ahead of the exercise, the different feuding factions are dangling two court orders, insisting that their camps have the authentic delegates list.
While Governor Godwin Obaseki’s supporters hinged their authenticity on a Benin High Court ruling, loyalists of Chief Dan Orbih, the South-South Zonal National Vice Chairman of the party countered with an order from a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Otsu however disclosed that during a meeting with the Edo State Director of the Department of State Security (DSS) who assured him of adequate security, he was unequivocal that only the delegates approved by the party will be let in.
The secretary assured all the aspirants of a level playing field, adding that there are no favourite aspirants.
He said: “We are going to transmit the results directly from the different centres to the venues. There are no favourite aspirants. The party is neutral. There will be a level playing field for all the aspirants.
“The process will be very transparent. We are set. We have the list of all accredited delegates. Only those who are accredited will be allowed into the different venues.”
Otsu said that the main opposition party was fully prepared for the exercise in the state.”
He said that the House of Assembly primary for the 24 constituencies in the state is scheduled to hold at 10 am in the various areas while that of the House of Representatives will hold later in the day.
The scribe who said that he is not envisaging any problem from any quarter however warned trouble makers to keep away from the venue as they will be dealt with.
The Secretary dismissed reports in some quarters that there’s a crisis in the party following a cold war between Governor Godwin Obaseki and Chief Dan Orbih, the South-South Zonal National Vice Chairman of the party, noting that the relationship between them is cordial.
