By DADA AYOKHAI
Edo state deputy governor, comrade Philip shaibu has in flagrant disregard of the Independent National Electorial Commission (INEC) list of candidates for the National Assembly elections in the state inaugurated the campaign council of Senator Francis Alimikhena whose name is not on the list of candidates.
Senator Alimikhena from Agenebode axis of Edo North is the incumbent Senator representing Edo north senatorial district at the National Assembly and also seeking re-election for a third term on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), platform.
Senator Alimikhena won the Edo North Senatorial election on two occasions on the All Progressive Congress (APC), platform.
He defected to the PDP on the eve of his former party, APC, primaries which makes the Edo state former governor comrade Adams oshiomole to pick the party ticket unopposed.
Senator Alimikhena who defected to the PDP after the party had already conducted her primaries became a candidate of the Obaseki/Shaibu led faction of the party following the withdrawal
of Mrs Victoria Edelokun .
Mrs Edelokun was the winner of the party primaries conducted by the Obaseki/ Shaibu led faction of the party.
The INEC recognized senatorial candidate for the district is Hon Paschal Ugbomeh .
Political pundits said the deputy governor’s action of inagurating the campaign council of yet to be a party candidate going by INEC guidelines is tantamount to hijack of INEC duties as an electoral umpire.
The inauguration ceremony which was held at Jattu residence of the deputy governor was attended by Senator Francis Alimikhena and some PDP factional leaders across Edo north district .
Comrade Shaibu told the campaign council to work hard to ensure victory for the continuation of Alimikhena at the national Assembly.
