In Edo State, the People’s Democratic Party has conducted an election congress to pick delegates participating in the party’s February 22 governorship primary.

However, yesterday's exercise was trailed by an uproar as nine out of the 11 PDP governorship aspirants boycotted the exercise.

Also, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, the chairman of the three-person committee in charge of the Edo delegate’s election, withdrew from the exercise.

But the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, who is said to be the committee's deputy chairman, commended the large turnout of party members for the delegates election.

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki described Makinde’s withdrawal from the process as unfortunate but said it would not undermine the credibility of the exercise, which, he said, witnessed a large turnout of party members.

The nine governorship aspirants who boycotted the delegates' election include Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, Anselm Ojezua, and Omosede Igbinedion.

The aspirants wrote a protest letter to the PDP acting national chairman, Umar Damagum. They sent a copy to the National Vice Chairman South-South, Dan Orbih, complaining about the committee's composition in conducting the delegate’s election.