Edo APC primary: Okpebholo petitions appeal committee, claims winner of primary

• APC cannot win guber election without zoning, says Don
• Primary election result accepted, says Osifo
• Party appeals for calm as party reinstates Inegbeniki as vice chairman 

As controversy continues to trail the outcome of the Edo State governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, has insisted that he remains the duly elected candidate of the party.

In a letter addressed to the APC appeal committee, he argued that contrary to claims by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State that Dennis Idahosa won the contest by 40,000 votes, only 24,000 members of the party were accredited to vote during the exercise.

Okpebholo, who was declared winner of the exercise by the Chief State Electoral Officer/Returning Officer, Dr. Stanley Ugboaja, contended that the results announced by Uzodimma were not a true reflection of what transpired on the day of the primary election.

MEANWHILE, President Bola Tinubu has been advised to be careful of the antics of Adams Oshiomhole and Uzodimma, who want to destroy the APC in Edo State.

Speaking to newsmen in Benin City, Prof. Bonaventure Osaghae said it was “pertinent to educate Tinubu that Edo is sitting on a tripod guided by the principle of zoning across the three senatorial districts and in all the political parties.

“So, it was alarming that Oshiomhole, who should know better, was now the one forcing Idahosa of the same Edo South, where the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki hails from, on Edo people.”

Osaghae, who is also a professor of political science at Igbinedion University, Okada, said: “The average Bini man does not like injustice, and it is historical about the Binis. I am a full-fledged Bini man and what Oshiomhole has just done will bring rancour to the body-politics of the state.”

“The candidate declared by Oshiomhole and Uzodimma did not win the primary. This will definitely affect the fortunes of the party on Election Day if they continue with this charade. The spirit of zoning, which was discarded, yesterday, by the leadership is what is affecting the party today and it will continue if not addressed.”

ALSO, a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State, Washington Osifo, yesterday, said there is no going back on the Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election results which saw the emergence of Dennis Idahosa, House of Representatives member (Ovia Federal Constituency).

Osifo said the Edo State APC governorship primary election result has been received and accepted by the National Headquarters, noting that it is a settled matter.

IN another development, the Edo South, APC Vice Chairman, Benson Edosomwan, yesterday, appealed to all members of the party across the 192 wards of the state to stay calm, saying the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party is working on the developments arising from the party’s primary held last Saturday, February 17, 2024.