Victor EzejaThere is confusion in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State as two governorship candidates emerged after a parallel primary election of the party held on Saturday.
The Edo State Governorship Election has been scheduled to hold on 21 September 2024.
The APC screening Committee had last week screened all 12 spirants in the party ahead of the primary election.
Hon. Denise Idahosa, who represents the Ovia Federal Constituency in the state, was earlier declared winner of the primary election by Senator Hope Uzodinmma, the governor of Imo State.
According to a report by Channels Television, Senator Uzodinma, who is the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee declared Idahosa as winner with the score of 40,453 votes to beat 11 other aspirants.
The primary election which produced Mr Idahosa was conducted by a panel headed by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.
Senator Monday Okpebholo was declared the winner at the home of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu by the Returning Officer, Dr. Stanley Ugboajah.
According to the report, the returning Officer, announced that Senator Monday Okpepholo emerged winner with 12,145 votes while Idahosa scored 5,536 votes to emerge second.
“I hereby certify that Monday Okpepholo, having scored the highest votes, is declared winner and duly returned as APC candidate for the election,” Ugboajah declared.
Reports indicated that some persons suspected to be political thugs numbering over 100 stormed the venue of the second primary and disrupted the collation and announcement exercise, forcing the team to change venue for the collation of results.
Meanwhile, the APC national publicity secretary, Felix Mouka, issued a statement on Saturday disclaiming the results that emanated from the second primary election, saying: it is only Governor Hope Uzodinma-led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee that “is duly authorized to undertake final collation and announcement of results of the Primary Election in the State.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
