As the deadline for submission of candidates for the Edo State governorship election ends today, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday disclosed that it was yet to be provided with the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

INEC’s deputy director, Voter Education and Publicity, Nick Dazang, who disclosed this to LEADERSHIP, added that the commission was yet to take a decision on which of the candidates from the factions it would accept.

He further stated that, so far, only six political parties had submitted names of their candidates for the election.

However, deputy national chairman of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party, Cairo Ojuogboh, told LEADERSHIP that the faction had submitted the name of Matthew Iduoriyekemwen to INEC, adding that the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja gave them the authority to do so.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Iduoriyekemwen had emerged candidates from separate primaries conducted by the warring camps in the party. While Ize-Iyamu emerged the candidate from the primaries held by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee, Iduoriyekemwen emerged candidate of the Sheriff-led leadership of the party.

Also, while a July 4 Federal High Court judgement in Port Harcourt recognised Makarfi’s committee as the legitimate leadership of the party, a Federal High Court in Abuja, however, granted an ex parte motion to Sheriff, which mandated INEC to recognise only candidates submitted by Sheriff for the Edo and Ondo guber elections.

But responding to an inquiry from LEADERSHIP ahead of the deadline, Mr. Dazang, who was in Lagos yesterday, said the commission was yet to take a decision on which of the candidates to recognise.

He said: “As at 4:52pm, I sent an inquiry to our director in charge of political party monitoring and I was told that only six political parties have submitted their candidates, and PDP is not among them. But the deadline is tomorrow and they are free to do so.”

When asked which of the camps’ candidates the commission would accept, he said, “As at this time, INEC has not taken a decision. If there is any development I will call you back.”

On whether the name of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Godwin Obaseki, had been submitted, the deputy director said he could not confirm as he was yet to get the names of the six political parties that had submitted candidates.

He, however, promised to make the list available immediately it is given to him.

LEADERSHIP recalls that Sheriff’s primary did not meet the 21-day notice to INEC, a requirement specified in the Electoral Act, unlike the Makarfi-organised primary which was monitored by INEC.

Reacting, however, Ojuogboh told LEADERSHIP that the faction had completed the processes for the submission of its candidate’s name. He said it was understandable that the deputy director was not aware because the submission of candidates was not done in his department.

“In any case we have no fear that our candidate will be accepted as the legitimate candidate of PDP for the election. The court ruled that Sheriff is the only person that can submit candidates for the Edo and Ondo guber elections.

“That judgement was specific and no court of competent jurisdiction can overrule it. The court has recognised Sheriff as the national chairman; the truth is the truth and nobody can change it,” he said.

It was, however, gathered that members of the PDP national caretaker committee were locked in a meeting yesterday over the issue.

Attempts to get the Makarfi group for reaction were futile as phone calls to the spokesman of the committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, rang out and were not returned.


http://leadership.ng/news/541427/edo-guber-pdp-unsettled-over-candidate-as-inec-deadline-ends-today

. Chai. This is how my enemies are confused when they heard that I still made first to comment on a front page post. Chai.

I dedicate this to my God. N to my brother and to Battabox n it's staff. And to you all still looking for the fruit of first to comment FTC God will bless you and make a way for you.

Chai finally m. More good things to come.

The evil that men do. Pdp I don't know how you guys can make sheriff yield. He was supposed to deal with apc but here you're regretting that move.

Warrisdis?
Well I'm only concerned about PDP ruling my darling state IMO in 2019

"No free lunch in freetown..."

16yrs of unfettered access to national commonwealth made PDP amnesic about this wise saying...

I just hope INEC leadership will be bold enough to wield the big stick. If the party can't put their house in order and produce a legitimate candidate before the end of today, the party should be disqualified from contesting the election. Wailers can wail for all I care, the rules must not be compromised for any party.

Hmmmm

nemesis in collaboration with karma flogging pdp frrom right,centre to left

PDP needs to do d needful to resolve ds yeye issue. Two elephants are fighting for control of d party @ d national level, Edo is now d grasses dt suffer

PDP is dead. House Divided.

space for sale

Hmmm

E concern them o

When they'll be sharing money in private they won't invite any of us. So guys chill and leave them to settle themselves

PDP...should b desolved..dey are confused and everything dey do is in disarray

seunmsg:
I just hope INEC leadership will be bold enough to wield the big stick. If the party can't put their house in order and produce a legitimate candidate before the end of today, the party should be disqualified from contesting the election. Wailers can wail for all I care, the rules must not be compromised for any party.

If INEC even compromises the rule to accommodate PDP, they should all expect legal battle thereafter.

Politicians shld settle themselves

Sheriff is an APC AGENT TO PDP, always cursing trouble everywhere, is he God. Naija self

[size=15pt]PDP should be disqualified as as possible! And the winner is APC! Obaseki![/size]

Who ll free pdp frm dier bondage?where s Moses(fayose) and Aaron(wike) to take dem to d land of canaan?

Let INEC accept any of the two. Either Matthew or Ize-Iyamu, we will still vote for PDP. We are tired of this nonsense CHANGE.

I blame Fayose and Wike for this wikedness Sheriff was invited to come perpetrate as party chairman.

Well played Sheriff!!!

I pity INEC, am sure they are in a confused state right nao, but if I were to be d chairman, I will go with Sheriff cos he has an order of court dat says he is only one dat can submit d names of candidates n d other camp didn't appeal it. Because if they are to go by any other recognising one faction, they will be wrong cos they both have dat judgment from two different high courts, I hope they act wisely n don't av an inconclusive election right from d start.

Karma is a bitch. If this impasse or struggle for leadership is not resolved, PDP may not field a candidate in Edo,and it will be the begining of another death for PDP after the 2015 election and of course death of opposition in the country, because as it stands now, Ondo may be tougher for PDP than Edo.

PdP can never rule Edo state again' I place a bet on anyone who cares ' the so called PdP governorship aspirants will decamp to APC after shamelessly loosing September election. The Pastor is nothing but a political desperate tyrant, who is power drunk and gat nothing to offer"
The other was NDDC boss for years, he couldn't even maintained the road leading to his house. Agbero govt is dead and buried in Edo state. OBASEKi will do the magic..

They should be disqualified. Extending the deadline would be favoritism

This a golden chance for PDP to prove themselves in Edo and they're goofing big time.
even if pdp eventually wins, the court might later disqualify them based on their shoddy primaries.Both cases, APC wins

geraldgiz:
Sheriff is an APC AGENT TO PDP, always cursing trouble everywhere, is he God. Naija self

Sheriff an APC agent ? What then can you say about Fayose and Wike that support him then even when the likes of FFK is against Sheriff , the issue is here like trouble go sleep yanga go wake am. Sheriff was on his own then, jejely some selfish interest went ahead to bring him, now Sheriff has become a pain to PDP whether you, Fayose, FFK, GEJ, Iyamu, George, Olalere e.t.c like it or not. Best advice , PDP should appeal , then to the Supreme Court.

So PDP can not stop Modu not to finally made the wish of the witchcraft party come to pass in their lives I guess I did not mention any party so if you quote me and be defending "the party" that means you know your party is the witchcraft party I'm talking about.

PDP wake up get yourself out of the demonic altar where your case was finalized get your act together and Modu should go back to his party rather than messing you up and divide you the more or please change that name PDP because that name is under a serous spell right now this is not funny it's a hard truth the job was done and sealed somewhere your ordinary imagination can't reach, wake up and correct your error to find your bearings, again the satanic party don't want to see any opposition so that they can cage every Nigerian to their darkness altar.

Remember I said if you quote me wrongly means you are one of the demon in that satanic party because I did not mention any party name here ok.

PDP should be disqualified as as possible! And the winner is APC! Obaseki! IDF U want APC TO WIN PLS HIT LIKE...... and guys pls dont for get my signature... as an apc member[b][/b]