By Gabriel Enogholase
THE crisis within the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, reared its head, Thursday, as a parallel congress of the party’s primaries to elect candidates for the House of Representatives election was conducted at Oka market and Arisco Hotel along Textile Mill Road, Benin, respectively.

While the Dr. Sam Ogbemudia faction conducted its primaries at Arisco Hotel and one Mrs. Stella Obazee was declared the winner, the Chief Anenih faction of the party had its own at Oka market at the outskirt of Benin City and was won by Mr. Ifaluyi Isibor, a member of the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, there was sporadic gun shots  at the Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia stadium where the PDP primaries for Oredo Federal Constituency was held.

The presence of heavy security prevented suspected hired thugs from gaining access to the In-door sports hall, where the primaries was conducted.

The primaries did not start until about 4pm as the three contending aspirants nearly engaged in a free-for-all over whose delegates were eligible to vote.

One of the aspirants who later had one vote, Mr. Osarobo  Obaseki alleged that the primaries were skewed to favour a candidate.

He described the primaries as fraudulent, saying that the delegates were coerced to vote for a particular aspirant.

It took the intervention of former Minister of Defence, General Godwin Abbe, who was present for the primaries to be conducted.

General Abbe said they wanted to make sure they got it right this time.