THE senator representing Edo Central in the National Assembly, Monday Okpebholo, has finally emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the second and concluded governorship primary election on Friday, February 23 held in Benin City.
The first exercise held at different venues and conducted by members of the party’s, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, was marred by accusations and counter-accusations, with three aspirants- Okpebholo, Dennis Idahosa and Anamero Dekeri- declared or claiming victory at parallel primaries.
In the Friday’s primary, conducted by the party’s Edo Primary Election Committee, led by Cross River Governor Bassey Otu, Okpebholo garnered 12,433 to defeat his closest rival and member representing Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, who polled6,541 votes.
Making the outcome public, Otu said: “Okpebholo, having satisfied all the requirements of the party and scoring the highest number of votes in this Edo State governorship primary election, is hereby declared the winner.”
From the results, Blessing Agbomhere polled 731 votes; Charles Airhiavbere, 1,181; Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; 378, Monday Okpebholo, 12, 433; Dennis Idahosa, 6, 541; Clem Agba, 2, 732; Lucky Imasuen, 493; David Imuse, 423; Oserhiemen Osunbor, 634; Gideon Ikhine, 728; Anamero Dekeri, 2, 566 and Ernest Umakhine, 2, 117.
Otu urged the other aspirants and leaders of the party to put the primary behind them and prepare for the September 21 election and to rally round Okpebholo, while commending officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for their efforts in seeing to a smooth, hitch-free exercise, saying in every contest, there must be a winner and loser.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had declared the first primary inconclusive and excused Uzodimma from headship of the committee.
Recall that the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, had earlier congratulated Idahosa on his purported emergence as the governorship candidate based on the declaration of Uzodinma, despite protests from other aspirants and stakeholders in the state, who alleged that the exercise was manipulated in favour of Idahosa, who is seen as the anointed candidate of former governor of the state and one-time national chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
The former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), shortly after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock Villa, told journalists that he never in the past or present imposed any aspirant on the members.
But he was countered by immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who accused him of attempting to impose an aspirant on others during Saturday’s primary election.
Fayemi, in a statement by his media aide, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, on Thursday, February 22, accused Oshiomhole of being responsible for the controversies surrounding the party’s activities in Edo State.
“Earlier, Oshiomhole had attempted to eliminate some aspirants from contesting the primaries, but failed. This is reminiscent of his high-handedness as national chairman when he manipulatively schemed Governor Godwin Obaseki out of the electoral process. That action led to the unfortunate loss of Edo state by the APC.
“It would appear the ground was being prepared by Oshiomhole yet again for the APC to lose the coming election in Edo State because of his unconscionable behaviour,” Fayemi stated.
Meanwhile, Dekeri, Osunbor and some other stakeholders have faulted the emergence of Okpebholo as the party’s candidate for sundry reasons.
