The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Edo State was heavily guarded as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held its primary election. The venue saw a strong police presence, with traffic management officials preventing unauthorized access to the stadium road. Numerous police officers were stationed along the road and at the entrance, ensuring that only individuals with legitimate business at the event were permitted entry.
Edo State Police Command spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, emphasized the heightened security measures, stating that the police no longer view party primaries as mere internal affairs following the conflicts that arose during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election. The Commissioner of Police had deployed a sufficient number of officers and personnel for the exercise, and it was clarified that vigilantes would not be involved in the election process.
Ten aspirants contested for the PDP governorship ticket, including the state deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, former Sterling Bank chairman Asue Ighodalo, and Anslem Ojezua, among others. The election was conducted in accordance with the guidelines released by the party. At the time of reporting, accreditation was ongoing at Edo Hotel Marquee in Benin.