Following crisis that rocked last Saturday’s Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Primary Election, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has declared the shadow election inconclusive.
The party said it will conclude the exercise on Thursday, February 22.
A decision to this effect was reached on Tuesday night at an emergency meeting of the NWC to consider the report of the election submitted by Gov. Hope Uzodinma’s primary election committee at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
The Nation learnt that the National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Villa of the outcome of the election.
Though details of the meeting at the Villa were not made public, a source said the President expressed concerns at the turn of events during the shadow election and directed the NWC ensure that the exercise was concluded.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, which lasted about three hours, National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said that based on the election report, NWC resolved that the primary election was not completed.
According to Morka: “At its emergency meeting held today, Tuesday, February 20, 2024, to consider the report on the Edo State Governorship Primary Election, the National Working Committee (NWC) deliberated on the report and resolved that the Edo State Governorship Primary Election has not been completed, and has now fixed Thursday, February 22, 2024, for the completion of the Primary Election Process.”
Efforts to get details of the arrangement for the Thursday exercise failed as Morka declined further comments.
Three of the 10 aspirants who contested the election are laying claim to victory. Two aspirants withdrew from the election a few hours before commencement.
Governor Hope Uzodinma’s Primary Election Committee on Saturday declared Hon. Dennis Idahosa winner having polled 40,453 votes, while Senator Okpebholo was returned winner by the Chief Returning Officer, Dr. Stanley Ugboaja and Hon. Anamero Sunday Dekeri was declared victorious by the spokesman of local government returning officers, Mr Ojo Babatunde.
As of the close of work on Tuesday, three of the aspirants have filed their petition to the Appeal Committee and the office of the national chairman of the party.
Two of the aspirants, Dekeri and Okpebholo asked the NWC to issue them certificates of return while Osunbor called for outright cancellation of the exercise, claiming there was no election in the 192 wards of the State last Saturday.
The three petitioners were billed to appear before the election appeal committee on Wednesday before the new development.
