Breaking: Sheriff PDP factional primaries: Police cordon off stadium in Edo

The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium is the scheduled venue for the planned governorship primaries of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of Peoples Democratic Party in Benin

The Police have cordoned off the entrance to Stadium Road by Akenzua Junction in Benin City, Edo State with vehicles and the gates to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium locked.

The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium is the scheduled venue for the planned governorship primaries of the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of Peoples Democratic Party in Benin.

Mathew Iduoriyekemwen and Rep. Johnson Agbonayinma are the two aspirants for the governorship ticket.
The Commissioner of Police in the State, Chris Eziken said: “I am not the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“It is too early to find out if the primary will hold or not.
“You can call me back in the afternoon to find out.”

Asked if INEC would witness the exercise, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Sam Olumekun, said only the national headquarters could comment on the matter.

A member of the Caretaker Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the primary would be held as scheduled but that they were looking for another venue.

The Ahmed Markafi-led PDP faction held its primaries on June 20 at the same venue.

It produced Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as its candidate.
Ize-Iyamu defeated Iduoriyekemwen and Chief Solomon Edebiri at the primaries, but Iduoriyekemwen later joined the Sheriff faction after he faulted the process of the primaries.