Emerhor wins parallel APC primary as Erue’s faction flays suspension

Olorogun O’tega Emerhor yesterday emerged the factional All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Delta Central senatorial district in the 2019 National Assembly elections.He defeated his only challenger and incumbent Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

But the Jones Erue-led faction dismissed the exercise and announced the expulsion of Emerhor from the party for “participating in a purported illegal primary election for the Delta Central senatorial district, conducted without authorisation of the National Working Committee (NWC).”

Emerhor polled 2,492 votes, while Omo-Agege polled four votes of the 2,509 accredited votes. Thirteen votes were invalidated. The Cyril Ogodo-led faction, which conducted the election in Ughelli, commenced the exercise at 12:50pm with accreditation of delegates for indirect voting.

Declaring the results, Returning Officer, Solomon Igbiaye said: “Having met the requirement, I declare Emerhor as winner.” He is hereby returned as the candidate for the Delta Central senatorial district election in 2019.”

In his acceptance speech, Emerhor said: “The executive that voted here today was duly inaugurated by the last national executive. “I believe the court will ensure that this executive is upheld alongside with my candidacy. Unfortunately, another parallel primary is being held by some illegal delegates somewhere.”

Meanwhile, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who was the sole candidate of the APC for Delta South senatorial primary was declared candidate in the 2019 elections.
APC members from the district comprising Itsekiri, Ijaw and Isoko ethnic nationalities, unanimously declared Uduaghan winner being the only candidate cleared to represent the district.The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) allegedly disqualified a candidate of Ijaw extraction, Chief Michael Johnny, thereby paving the way for Uduaghan’s emergence as the sole candidate.