• Two More Aspirants Withdraw
• Only Result Announced By Uzodimma-led
• Committee Is Authentic, Says NWC
Suspected political thugs, yesterday, disrupted the collation of results of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Edo State.
The thugs invaded the collation centre at a popular hotel in Benin City despite being aired live on television.
Results from eight local councils had already been announced when journalists covering the event were alerted to vacate the collation centre.
But before journalists could gather their working tools and personal belongings, the thugs swooped on the venue, overpowering the police operatives at the gate, leaving several journalists, including an NTA cameraman and FRCN reporter manhandled and their equipment vandalised.
The presence of the State Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adeboye, and party officials at the collation centre did not deter the hoodlums from engaging in free for all.
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee of the APC, yesterday, denied a live broadcast on major national television stations and online news outlets of results of the ongoing Edo State APC Governorship Primary.
In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, said: “I wish to state categorically that only the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee is duly authorised to undertake final collation and announcement of results of the primary election in the state.
“We urge all party members, officials and the general public to disregard the said announcement of results by these unauthorised persons,” he said.
Earlier, former Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Imasuen and Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, in separate statements, announced their withdrawal from the primary.
The decision of Imasuen, who has reportedly thrown his weight behind Senator Monday “Akpakomiza” Okpebholo, followed a similar move by former Secretary to Edo State Government, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
While thanking his supporters for standing by him through thick and thin, Imasuen expressed hope that together, they can make a difference and bring about positive change for Edo State.
On his part, Umakhihe said his decision to drop his governorship ambition was based on his latest interaction with the party leadership.
“However, following my latest interaction with the party leadership, I will not be contesting the primary.
“Let us give our support to Dennis Idahosa, who is the choice of the party. There are greater days ahead,” Umakhihe said.
