Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo has advised PDP leaders and House of Assembly aspirants to be united ahead of party primaries.

Mr Obaseki made the call in Benin City on Wednesday while addressing 162 aspirants and leaders of the party drawn from state’s18 LGAs.

“We should be united and not be our own opponent; the way we go about this primary is very important, it will depend what the outcome of the election will be,” the Edo governor said. “We have 24 seats in the EDHA and 162 people are contesting. At the end, majority will not get the position. We have long nine months to prepare and campaign and the journey will not be easy nor cheap.”

He explained that aspirants should work in unity to win the forthcoming parliamentary election.

”Come 2023, PDP will select candidates to contest the position against candidates from other parties. For contestation at this level, we can’t be our own opponents. We all will rally round to support those that emerge in the primary and together we will win the election,” he urged them.

Mr Obaseki called on party members to shun politics of bitterness and unite to win the elections ahead.

He also mentioned that aspirants should guard against excessive spending and them of his neutrality in the build-up to the primary elections.

PDP chairman in Edo, Tony Azeigbemi, explained that 162 people returned their forms out of the 164 aspirants that made purchased and they were screened and cleared to contest the primaries.

One of the aspirants, Magdalene Ogbebulu, called on the party to ensure that only candidates who could win elections should emerge during the party primaries on May 7.

(NAN)