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• Protest NWC’s waiver to him
From Idu Jude Abuja
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, witnessed a mild drama as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party gathered for the screening of governorship asiprants when a heated argument occurred in the waiting room as the screening got underway.
The drama began when all aspirants on the platform of the party, forced Asue Ighodalo, a candidate allegedly sponsored by Governor Godwin Obaseki out for being rude to the Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
A source said: “All aspirants were waiting when Ighodalo allegedly made derogatory remarks about the deputy governor. Other aspirants quickly called him out, reminding him that he was insulting the office of the deputy governor. Despite their intervention, Ighodalo insisted on making the remarks, prompting Shaibu to walk him out of the meeting.
“In solidarity, other aspirants agreed that Ighodalo left the waiting room due to his disrespectful behaviour towards the deputy governor’s office. Following this command, Ighodalo stormed out.”
In a related development, more trouble occurred as all the aspirants and their supporters united in opposition against the party granting Ighodalo a waiver. The protesters said Ighodalo had never voted in Edo State and should not be allowed to run for election under the PDP banner.
According to the source, the protest escalated, leading to the intervention of riot policemen who were called in to suppress the demonstration. The supporters of the aspirants warned that if Ighodalo were forced upon the party, it would be met with resistance and potentially spell disaster for the party’s standing in the region.
“It is worth noting that the party’s NWC had reportedly granted Ighodalo a waiver, a decision that many party members perceive as a clandestine effort to impose a candidate who recently joined the party and has neither voted nor actively contributed to its growth and sustenance in the state.
“As tensions rise and protests persist, the future of Ighodalo’s candidacy remains uncertain, and the PDP faces the challenge of maintaining unity and trust within its ranks,” he said.
