Asue Ighodalo, a businessman, has been named the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary poll, which was held in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday.
During the election, Ighodalo defeated around nine other candidates, including the state’s Deputy Governor.
He received 577 votes to become the PDP candidate in the state’s governorship election on September 21, while his closest challenger received one vote.
The Chairman of the Edo PDP Primary Electoral Committee, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, pronounced him the winner of the election.
Furthermore, the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, stayed away after organizing a parallel election at another location and winning with 301 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Ighodalo praised the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the state’s whole population for their love and support.
He said that Obaseki has provided the groundwork for him to build on if he is elected governor.
He vowed to bring together young men and women to form his government and turn the state around.
He said, “I must thank the entire people of Edo State for their support, and most especially the Governor Godwin Obaseki for the confidence he has in me.
“Governor Obaseki has laid the foundation for me to build upon if I am eventually voted governor of the state. I will assemble young men and women that are capable of turning the fortunes of the state around,” he added.