Timothy Omobude 
Mr. Moses Uadiale, a candidate who contested the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primary for Edo State House of Assembly, Esan North-East constituency I, has urged leadership of the party in the state to intervene on what he tagged as taking what rightfully belongs to him.
According to him, he contested the May 22, 2022, Edo State House Assembly primary election on the platform of the PDP, the state Government’s faction, and won but surprisingly, on the day of giving Certificate of Return, his name was replaced with another’s.
In a chat with journalist, weekend, the Edo State House of Assembly candidate said all efforts to correct this anomaly have not yielded result, adding that series of letters written to the party leadership in the state to correct the wrong have not been honoured.
He added that the most surprising, the man whose name was used to substitute his name did not contest the primary either under the Dan Orbih or Obaseki’s faction, saying he’s the one that contested under the Obaseki’s faction and won.
He said: “I’m one of the aspirants that contested for Edo State House of Assembly on the platform of the PDP in the last state primary held May 22, 2022, and I happened to be the candidate-elect for the party.
“So, when I heard that they were about to give the Certificate of Return to those of us that contested under the Governor Godwin Obaseki’s faction, I came to the secretariat to get my Certificate of Return, but to my greatest surprise, They replaced my name with someone who did not participate in the primary.
“I got to later realise that a big ‘political wig’ is involved in all these drama. I see no reason why a man who joined Mr. Governor to fight godfatherism in the state politics is the one playing such role.
“I see no reason why he will leave his senatorial district to come and impose candidate on us in Edo central. I contested the election, and I won the election. I have my result sheet; I have video clips, I have every evidence to prove that I am the authentic candidate of the last primary,” he added.
Further speaking on efforts made so far to get his mandate back, Uadiale said: “I have tried all my best including the party’s internal mechanism but to no avail. I got in touch with all party leaders across the state, including the Speaker of Edo House of Assembly, but to no avail.
“I wrote series of letters through my lawyer to the chairman of the party; I went to his house, saw him and spoke to him, pleaded with him to tell me why my name should be substituted without my consent, but everything came null.
He, therefore, pleaded: “I am appealing to the state chairman who has been piloting the affairs of the party very well to intervene and give me what rightfully belongs to me.
“It will be unfair to deprive a man like me who stood for the party come rain, come shine.”
But when contacted, the state party chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, said the Certificates of Return given out did not emanate from him but was given to him to present.
“Edo PDP does not print certificates of return. It was giving to me, and what was giving to me was what I gave out,” he stated.
