Edo 2024: Idahosa Emerges LP Governorship Candidate in Parallel Primary

Sunday Okobi

There is an unfolding drama in the Edo State Labour Party (LP) as Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa-led faction  has announced Dr. Hilton Idahosa, as its candidate for the Edo State governorship election scheduled to hold on September 21, 2024.

The  LP led by Julius Abure had  on February 23, declared Olumide Apata as it governorship candidate following the primary election conducted by in Benin-city, the Edo State capital.

However, in a parallel election held in Benin-city last Saturday (February 24), Dr. Hilton Idahosa, emerged the winner of the Apapa faction of the LP with 917 votes. His closet rival scored 17 votes while the third contender garnered 12 votes.

However, it has emerged that Apapa, who was not present during the primary election held in Benin-city, had allegedly written a (secret) letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on February 22, 2024, in which he submitted the names of Anderson Uwadiae Asemote and Monday Ojore Mawah as governorship and deputy governorship candidates respectively of the party.

The letter signed by Apapa, as the acting national chairman, and Alhaji Saleh Lawan, as acting National Secretary, read in part: ‘‘We write to submit the names of our candidates that emerged from our governorship primary election conducted today (February 22, 2024) in Benin, Edo State.

‘‘You will recalled that we had earlier notified the commission about the conduct of our party governorship primary today, and we hereby forward the names of our party flag bearer for the September 21, 2024, governorship election.’’

Reacting to the development, Idahosa, who is a United Kingdom-based lawyer, described the purported letter from Apapa as fake. He explained that the primary election which was earlier slated for February 21, was shifted to February 24, to allow for exigencies.

According to him, “There was no primary election conducted on February 22, as purported in the said letter from Apapa to INEC.”

He said the election in which he emerged as a candidate was conducted by the LP state officials at the secretariat of the party on First East Circular Road, Benin-city.

Idahosa noted that the said letter is the handiwork of mischief makers, who are bent on causing disaffection within the ranks of the party.

He further noted that he has the backings of the state leaders and the party members, as well as that of Apapa and his team, disclosing that the true position will be made known in the coming days as his team is in dialogue with both the Apapa team and leaders of the party in the state.