The Peoples Democratic Party; PDP, in Edo State, on Sunday, conducted an elective congress to pick delegates that will participate in the party’s February 22 governorship primary. The congress was, however, trailed by irregularities as nine out of the eleven PDP governorship aspirants boycotted the exercise and the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who was the chairman of the three-man committee in charge of the Edo delegates election, withdrew without giving reasons. The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, who isthe deputy chairman of the committee, however, went on with the exercise, commending the large turnout of party members for the election. Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, described Makinde’s withdrawal from the process as unfortunate but said it would not undermine the credibility of the exercise, which, he said, witnessed a large turnout of party members. The nine governorship aspirants, who boycotted the delegates election, were Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, Hafia Hadizat Umoru, Omosede Igbinedion, Dr Earl Osaro Onaiwu and Arthur Esene. They wrote a protest letter to the PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and sent a copy to  the National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Dan Orbih. The nine aspirants complained about the composition of the committee conducting the delegates election. Speaking to party members at the George Idah Primary School, GRA, Benin, the collation centre for Ward 2, the Enugu State Governor said, “This is democracy where our people come to exercise their franchise. We appreciate this turnout. Our party is known for the principles of fairness, equity and justice. I wish you to all conduct yourselves properly as we hold this election.”   When contacted to react to the Edo situation, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said, ”It is publicly known that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, for personal reasons known only to him, resigned as Chairman of the PDP Edo State Ad Hoc Delegate Congress Electoral Committee. We are not aware of any other person who boycotted.”