The aftermath of Saturday’s Edo State governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has deepened with the emergence of a third candidate, Mr. Anamero Dakeri, further complicating an already contentious situation. The primary, held across 192 wards of the state, witnessed conflicting declarations of winners and threats of legal action.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who chaired the seven-man election committee, declared Dennis Idahosa as the winner shortly after the primary. However, Dr. Stanley Ugboajah, the Returning Officer, declared Senator Monday Okpebholo the winner at the private residence of one of the aspirants who had withdrawn from the race. Adding to the confusion, local government returning officers later declared Anamero Dakeri as the winner of the contest, with Dakeri reportedly garnering 25,384 votes compared to Idahosa’s 14,127.
As a result, three individuals, Idahosa (Edo South), Okpebholo (Edo Central), and Dakeri (Edo North), are laying claim to the APC candidacy for the September 21 governorship election. Idahosa is reportedly supported by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and some APC leaders, while Okpebholo enjoys backing from other party stalwarts advocating for a power shift to Edo Central.
In his acceptance speech, Idahosa praised the APC’s democratic values and called for unity among party members to secure victory in the upcoming election. He expressed gratitude to the party leadership for maintaining a high standard in the primary process and acknowledged the challenging competition posed by his fellow aspirants.
Meanwhile, Dakeri extended a hand of fellowship to his co-contestants, emphasizing the need for unity within the party to ensure success in the election. He called on party members to rally behind him and work together to defeat the incumbent People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government in Edo State.
However, Senator Okpebholo has criticized the premature congratulatory message from APC national leader Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje to Idahosa, alleging irregularities and controversies surrounding the declaration of results. Okpebholo’s campaign organization has expressed confidence in the party leadership’s ability to uphold his victory and has hinted at exploring legal options to challenge the outcome of the primary.
Additionally, Prince Clem Agba, an aspirant and former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, condemned the primary process, claiming disenfranchisement of party members and disputing the announced results. Agba has vowed to seek redress through legal means while remaining committed to the APC.
Furthermore, the APC Stakeholders Forum has disowned the results declared by Governor Uzodimma’s committee, alleging usurpation of duties and responsibilities by the committee. The forum called on Ganduje and APC national leadership to reject Uzodimma’s declaration of Idahosa as the winner, emphasizing the authority of local government returning officers in determining election outcomes.
The post-primary turmoil reflects the intense competition and factionalism within the APC ahead of the gubernatorial election in Edo State, setting the stage for potential legal battles and further political maneuvering in the coming days.
