Idahosa Wins Edo APC Governorship Primary, Senator Okpebholo Emerges Winner in Parallel Election

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City and Juliet Akoje in Abuja

A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ovia Federal Constituency in Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the governorship election slated for September 21, 2024.

Idahosa was declared winner of the governorship primary election which took place yesterday in Benin-City by the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma at the Protea Hotel, Benin-City.
But in a dramatic twist, the Senator representing Edo Central, Monday Okpebholo was declared winner by the Returning Officer of the Uzodimma-led committee, Dr. Stanley Ugboaje at the residence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Uzodimma, while announcing Idahosa as winner, said he scored 40,453 votes to beat other 11 aspirants
He said the other aspirants score is as follows: Prince Clem Agba, 100 votes; Monday Okpebholo, 100 votes; Sunday Dekeri, 2,030 votes; Osagie Ize-Iyamu, two votes; Gideon Ikhine, 700 votes; David Imuse, 400 votes; Charles Airhiavbere, 162 votes; Oserhiemen Osunbor, 180 votes; Blessing Agbomhere, 50 votes; Dennis Idahosa, 4,453 votes, Ernest Umakhihe, two votes; and Lucky Imasuen, two votes.

 According to Uzodimma, who was flanked by the deputy chairman of the committee and Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu; Committee Secretary, Lawan Garba and other members, said: “This is the certify that Dennis Idahosa having scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared winner of the primary election.”

Similarly, the Returning Officer for the election in the parallel primary, Dr. Ugboaje, in announcing the results, said Senator Okpepholo emerged winner with 12,145 votes while Idahosa scored 5,536 votes to emerge second.
“I hereby certified that Monday Okpepholo, having scored the highest votes, is declared winner and duly returned as APC candidate for the election,” Ugboaje said.

Some persons suspected to be political thugs numbering over 100 stormed the venue where they disrupted the collation and announcement of the results.
During the disruption, the thugs beat up journalists covering the exercise and destroyed their cameras.
Journalists were however surprised that despite the presence of armed security personnel at the venue, the thugs were able to invade the venue.
But in a swift statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party said only the committee led by Uzodimma can announce the results of the governorship primary election.

Morka urged the public to disregard any results announced by “unauthorised persons”.
“We wish to state categorically that only the Governor Hope Uzodimma-led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee is duly authorized to undertake final collation and announcement of results of the primary election in the state.
“We urge all party members, officials in the state, and the general public to disregard the said announcement of results by these unauthorised persons,” Morka explained.

Two aspirants, Lucky Imasuen and Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe had withdrawn from the governorship primary a few hours to the exercise over the decision of a faction of the party to zone the ticket to the central senatorial district of the state.
On Friday, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former candidate in the last election, also withdrew from the exercise, saying his decision, though painful, was in the interest of peace and unity of the party.
Reacting to the outcome of the elections, one of the aspirants and immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem  Agba, vowed to challenge the results.

“Unfortunately, what we have all witnessed in the APC party primaries in Edo State on Saturday, February 17, 2024 falls below the minimum standard of democratic elections that is universally acceptable.
“I strongly believe that thousands of loyal party members were disenfranchised. Based on the authentic turnout we clinched victory. The result so far announced is a ridicule and undermines the principles of democracy and fair play. The votes of the people did not count, the processes of election were compromised and the strength and unity of our party greatly undermined.

“While I remain a loyal party member, I will not be part of a process that robs the mass of our loyal party members of their inalienable right to vote. What has taken place in Edo State negates all that even our political leaders have taught us over the years about democracy, the will of the people, one man, one vote and justice and fair play.
“We must come together to challenge this great injustice and restore the integrity and strength of our great party.

“Such Impunity that the people have been subjected to should have no place in our great party,” Agba explained.