BENIN—A member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Mr. Jeff Ukhureigbe, has described the alleged ceding of the 2016 governorship ticket of the party to Edo South senatorial zone by the leadership of the party as undemocratic, illegal, unjustifiable and unconstitutional.

In an open letter to the acting National Chairman of the party, Mr. Uche Secondus through his counsel, Olayiwola Afolabi, Ukhureigbe said that it was the turn of Edo Central senatorial zone to produce the next governor of the state since Edo South had ruled for eight years in the person of Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Adams Oshiomhole from Edo North, another eight years.

He insisted that the zoning of the governorship ticket to Edo South by the leadership of the party had showed that it hates Edo Central indigenes who have in the last eight years carried the burden of the party on their shoulders.

However, while reacting to the allegation, Edo State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare described the petitioner as an unknown member of the party, saying that no well known member of the party would question the zoning arrangement which it arrived at after series of consultation.

He alleged that the All Progressives Congress, APC government in the state was sponsoring its members to cause confusion and disaffection ahead of the election and advised its members not to allow that to happen.

He called on the national body of the party to as a matter of urgency nullify the zoning arrangement of the Edo state PDP and provide a level playing ground for Edo Central to produce the next governorship candidate of the party.