The weekend’s governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edp state is still enmeshed in controversies as after Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State who is the chairman of the seven man election committee for the exercise declared Hon Dennis Idahosa as the winner of the election and the Returning Officer of the process, Dr Stanley Ugboajah declared Sen. Monday Okpebholo as the winner in the private residence of one of the aspirants that earlier stepped down from the race, the local government returning officers early Sunday declared Hon Anamero Dakeri as the winner of the contest.
Their spokesperson, Ojo Babatunde said Dakeri polled 25,84 votes while he said Idahosa polled 14,127 votes.
With this development, three people, Idahosa, Okpebholo and Dakeri are claiming to be candidates of the APC for the September 21 governorship election.
In his acceptance speech at his campaign office in Benin City, Dakeri said he has accepted the choice of the members of the party as their candidate “Let me also appreciate the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring transparency in the conduct of the election.
“Here, I must acknowledge the efforts of my Campaign team for their resilience and commitment to the noble course. I thank you so very much. However, l urge you to rededicate yourselves to the next stage of the process. God’s willing, we shall triumph again.
“At this point, I must acknowledge my co-contestants and great party members who put up a commendable challenge during the contest. Your participation I must say helped deepen democracy in our party. You fought gallantly and with passion. We might have disagreed during the campaigns which is not unusual in any contest, however our members have made a choice.
“There is no victor and there is no vanquished. It is APC that has won. Democracy is the winner. Therefore, I invite you to join hands with me and let us match together, shoulder to shoulder, with great strength and commitment and remove the temporary occupant at Osadebey Avenue – the PDP come September, 2024.
“Although there was a delay in the arrival of election materials, especially in Edo North, I salute the party leadership in rising to the occasion and members who were resolute in their desire to exercise their franchise which they willingly gave to me.”
Idahosa in an acceptance speech, commended the national leadership of the APC led by Dr Abdulahi Ganduje and called for collaboration from all stakeholders for the APC to win back the state.
He said: “The APC, is undoubtedly a truly progressive party, and it has continued to deepen democratic values through popular participation and robust engagements, that guarantee a level playing field for all. I hereby highly praise and thank the leadership and members of our great party for yet again setting such a high standard. It has been a tough political contest between all the aspirants: we all campaigned across the state, to woo registered party members to support our respective aspirations; counting down from months to weeks and then days. We have finally come to the end of the first major hurdle- the primary election, which has now given me the mandate to be the flagbearer of our great party. It is a victory that I will forever cherish in my political journey all through my life.
“No doubt, this primary election was one that was keenly contested; fielding eleven other aspirants against me. They are all political heavy weights in the state and I salute them all. It was indeed an election that reflected the wishes and yearnings of the majority of our members across the 192 wards in the state as ably demonstrated by the outcome. This election has further deepened our party’s internal democratic process and taken us a step further ahead of other political parties on how to promote party cohesion for positive outcomes.
“For me, this victory is not just for Dennis Idahosa alone, but for the entire members of the APC in the state, and the National Headquarters including my fellow respected contestants, who have shown great commitment to taking our party to a higher level.
“With the outcome of this primary, we have made a bold statement about our resolve to return Edo state to APC and I assure you that the great people of Edo State will vote us as their choice for governor on 21 September, from when we will overturn the vicissitudes that have plagued our dear state around, without delay.”
In the meantime, Sen Okpebholo has faulted the congratulatory message by Ganduje to Idahosa.
Senator Okpebholo, who spoke through the Director of Media and Publicity of Senator Monday Okpebholo Governorship Campaign Organisation, Godswill Inegbe, said Ganduje as the father and respected leader of the party couldn’t have hurriedly issued a congratulatory message when controversies and other issues characterised the announcement of the results.
Mr Inegbe noted that in his phone conversation with the Chief Press Secretary to the National Chairman of APC on Sunday morning, Mr Edwin Olofo, neither confirmed nor acknowledged that the statement came from him.
He said his principal had implicit confidence in the national and state leadership of the great party to ensure that the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo in the February 17th APC primary election was upheld.
