Crisis is brewing over the conduct of the repeat All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election for Edo State in which Senator Monday Okpebholo was declared winner.
In a petition to the party’s Governorship Election Appeal Panel, one of the aspirants, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, is challenging the outcome of the primary, which result he described as fictitious.
“Consequently, I urge that the purported return of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the primary election be set aside while I am reinstated and/or declared the winner of the election,” Idahosa demanded in his petition.
Recall that Sen. Monday Okpebholo, Hon. Dennis ldahosa and Hon. Sunday Anamero Dekeri, were declared winner of the first primary election conducted on February 17th, necessitating the APC to order for the repeat primary.
But Idahosa in his petition said: “I write in respect of the Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election, particularly my victory at the primary election held on 17th February, 2024 which was duly acknowledged by the National Chairman of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) as per his congratulatory message widely reported to have been issued on 18h February, 2024. May I, with respect, chronicle the factual background of this letter thus:
“In preparation for the election to the office of Governor of Edo State, the APC commenced the statutory nomination process by, amongst others, scheduling its primary election for 17 February, 2024,, notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and empaneling a Gubernatorial Election Primary Committee under the auspices of the National Working Committee of the APC pursuant to Article 13.4 (xiv) of the APC Constitution.
“The following are the members of the Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee – His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma (Charman), His Excellency Senator Bassey Otu (Deputy Chairman), H. E. Titilayo Laoye Tomori, Alhaji Lawan Garba, Honourable Umar Hassan, Professor Nentanwe Yilwatda Goshwe and Alhaji Rabiu Sulaiman (Secretary).
“The primary election duly held on 17th February, 2024 as scheduled with 12 aspirants participating and I won and was returned winner, having garnered 40,453 votes which was the highest scored amongst the 12 candidates that participated. Attached to this letter as “Annexure APC Edo Guber Primary 1” is the result sheet duly signed by H. E. Senator Hope Uzodinma and Alhaji Rabiu Sulaiman.
“The Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee also prepared a report duly signed by all its seven members detailing the various steps culminating in my victory at the primary election pursuant to extant and applicable provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Electoral Act, 2022, APC Constitution and Guidelines. The said report is attached as “Annexure APC Edo Guber Primary 2”.
“In confirming the due conduct of the election, Senator Hope Uzodinma posted the following message on his X handle (formally Twitter) @Hope_uzodinmma1 as follows:
“I was delighted to announce Hon. Dennis Idahosa @Idahosadennis as the winner of our peacefully conducted Governorship Primary in Benin City. His resounding victory, marked by the highest votes count reflects the trust and confidence our party members have in his leadership.
“I commend all aspirants and their supporters for upholding the peace accord, demonstrating maturity and commitment to our party values. Remember the party belongs to us all. This is not a defeat but a testament to our collective strength…”
Idahosa who represents Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, quoted newspaper reports and other news platforms in which the National Chairman of the APC congratulated him for his victory, saying “While describing Idahosa as the choice of the people, the APC National Chairman urged him to carry other aspirants along to have a united front ahead of the governorship election in the state.
“The former Kano Governor also commended Uzodinma Primary Election Committee. He said, “I want to congratulate the winner of the Edo State governorship election, I want to equally commend and appreciate Governor Hope Uzodinma’s Election Committee for their hard work and the transparent manner in which the election was conducted.”
The Federal lawmaker stated that “Despite the foregoing, I was surprised when, on 20th February, 2024, a Press Statement surfaced indicating that the NWC considered a report and resolved that the governorship primary election had not been completed and therefore fixed February 22, 2024 for the completion of the process.
He said he found the said statement more unusual in the light of the reality that the report of the NWNC Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee was emphatic and unequivocal that not only was the primary election conclusive but that he won same.
Beside Idahosa, Hon. Sunday Anamero Dekeri, who represents Etsako Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is also contesting the outcome of the APC governorship primary in Edo State.
Meanwhile leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) yesterday presented certificate to Senator Monday Okpebholo, the winner of the party’s just-concluded primary election for the September Edo state governorship poll.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony held in Abuja, APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, assured that with Okpebholo as APC candidate, the party would reclaim the state from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the September poll.
The former governor of Kano State described Okpebholo as a product that is sellable, refined, well packaged, and one that the party can easily deliver.
Ganduje said: “Three aspirants were declared as “candidates”. That process was not concluded and I asked the committee to go back. Coincidentally, the chairman of the committee had a presentation to make at the National Economic Council and that is why he could not go back to conclude the exercise.
“That was why his deputy, the Governor of Cross Rivers State, Bassey Otu, became the new chairman. I am happy to tell you that as we directed, as we monitored, the direct primaries took place in 192 wards.
“We have the record, the results were collated in each local government and the results are with us. The results were announced after collation. As a result, Senator Okpebholo scored the highest number of votes and therefore declared the winner.
Some of the aspirants came forward to congratulate him. Those who couldn’t, from the report we heard, also called his line.
What is important to us is to win Edo state. We knew what happened in the past, but now we are in the way to win that election, because we believe that we have a product that is sellable, refined, well packaged, and a product that we can deliver,” the APC boss said.
In his acceptance speech, Okpebholo assured that he will not disappoint the people of Edo state, reiterating that the journey to resetting the state with actionable development has began with the confidence reposed in him as the flag bearer of APC.