The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared its governorship primary election in Edo State inconclusive. The announcement came amidst mounting tension and controversy surrounding the outcome of the fiercely contested primary held last Saturday.
The revelation was made public by Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, through a statement issued on Tuesday night. Morka disclosed that the decision to declare the primary inconclusive was reached during an emergency National Working Committee meeting convened by the party to address the escalating crisis.
The primary election, conducted by the Senator Hope Uzodimma-led committee, was marred by chaos and conflicting claims to the party’s ticket. Initially, Dennis Idahosa was declared the winner by the Chairman of the primary election committee. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when Stanley Ugboaja, the returning officer for the primary, later proclaimed Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected candidate. Adding to the confusion, another contender, Anamero Dekeri, also staked a claim to the ticket.
Prior to the primary, three out of the twelve aspirants cleared for the contest had withdrawn their candidacy. These included Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imasuen, and Ernest Umakhihe, further complicating the already contentious race.
The dissatisfaction among aspirants over the primary conduct culminated in protests at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
Given the unresolved disputes and the need for a conclusive outcome, the APC has announced a new date to complete the primary election process. The party has scheduled Thursday, February 22, 2024, to continue the primary, hoping to determine its flagbearer for the upcoming September 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
