By Simon Ebegbulem & Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, yesterday assured party faithful that the party would conduct free and fair primaries next month to ensure that only the best candidates were fielded in the 2015 general elections.

Chief Orbih gave the assurance in Benin when some aspirants jostling for the elective positions stormed the party’s secretariat to collect forms of intent to contest elections.

Among those who were at the party’s secretariat to collect the forms were the State PDP Director of organization/Operations, Mr. Pascal Ugbome, Mr. Sergius Ogun and former All Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, National President, Mr. Felix Akhabue.

Speaking to journalists after collecting the form, one of the aspirants, Mr. Pascal Ugbome, while pledging to carry out a campaign devoid of any rancour and acrimony, said “so, as a Senator, I will join hands with other well meaning Nigerians to help revive the middle class to be able to help bring self confidence back to the Nigerian people.”

Meanwhile, sequel to insinuations that the leadership of the PDP in Edo state may have given automatic ticket to the nine PDP lawmakers in the state House of Assembly who may want to return to the House, the leadership of the party has been urged to be careful with such decision in order not to pick unpopular candidates for the party.

A chieftain of the party and House of Assembly aspirant for Igueben constituency, Mr. Odiana Eriata, who spoke after he picked the nomination form, stressed the need for the party leadership to take into the account the feelings of the people before making such decision.