By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—AHEAD of the 2016 governorship election in Edo State, the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has set up a 15-man committee to interact with the governorship aspirants of the party with a view to having peaceful and successful primaries.

Ize-Iyamu, Onaiwu, Edebiri and Iduriyekemwen

Vanguard learned that the committee is made up of five National Assembly members while others are leaders of the party from the three senatorial districts of the state.

The decision was sequel to a meeting presided over by the former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, at his residence in Benin City, weekend.

The four aspirants of the party, Matthew Iduoriyekenwem, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Osaro Onaiwu and Chief Solomon Edebiri were in attendance.

Chief Anenih, who addressed the meeting, stressed the need for party members to search for a credible and an acceptable candidate who is capable of defeating whoever the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, produces.

He reiterated that there was no anointed candidate in the party and urged the aspirants to avoid campaign of calumny and avoid actions capable of creating crisis in the party.

Also at the meeting were the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, and other chieftains of the party.