Edo 2024: Aggrieved party members demand sack of state exco, as Dekeri petitions APC NWC

…I won primaries with over 6,000 votes — Senator Okpebholo claims

By Elvis Omoregie, Benin

The crisis following the aftermath of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Saturday 17th primaries election has deepened with a section of party members demanding for the sack of the state exco of the party.

Some angry youths, women said to be members of the party on Monday took over the party’s Secretariat along Airport Road in Benin City, Edo State demanding the sack of the state executive members led by acting Chairman, Jarret Tenebe.

The youths who accused state party officials of an alleged plot to sabotage the APC in the September 21 governorship poll in Edo State, thereafter took over the Secretariat.

The development is believed to be a fallout of the February 17 APC governorship primary election, during which three aspirants are laying claim to victory.

The primary election, which took place on Saturday, was marred by clashes that resulted in severe injuries and widespread disruption.

The primary saw 12 aspirants initially cleared for participation by the party’s national leadership.

However, three candidates—Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imasuen, and Ernest Umakhihe—opted out before the polls opened. At the conclusion of the voting process, three individuals emerged as front-runners: Senator Monday Okpebholo of Edo Central Senatorial District, Hon. Dennis Idahosa of Ovia Federal Constituency, and Hon. Anamero Sunday Dekeri of Eksakor Federal Constituency.

Local Government returning officers for the primary election, led by Babatunde Ojo had however on Saturday declared Anamero Dekeri, a serving House of Representatives member, winner of the exercise.

The APC Youth leader in the State, Comrade. Tony Adun who is also known as Kabaka, and a leader in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Comrade Osarobo Idahosa, speaking with journalists accused the State APC leadership of working at cross purpose with the national leadership of the Party.

Adun alleged that the state officials collected the sum of $250,000 bribe from a certain guber aspirant who is laying claim to victory at the Party’s February 17, guber primary.

He said, “Hon. Idahosa, 43,  won Saturday primary as announced by Hope Uzodinma, the chairman of the APC electoral committee.

“We the youths are saying this is our time. And a youth has emerged. We the youths will resist the SWC members working against him (Idahosa).

“I want to tell the National Working Committee that members of the State Working Committee (SWC) disobeying their directives should be suspended from the party,” he stated.

The National leadership of the party had affirmed Dennis Idahosa as the APC candidate. The party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje congratulated him on his victory.

However, members of the State Working Committee in a statement by its spokesman, Barr. Igbinigie Uwadia countered the national decision, and affirmed the primary result announced by Dr. Stanley Ugboajah.

…As Dekeri petitions APC NWC

Similarly, Hon. Anamero Dekeri, one of the three gubernatorial candidates that emerged from Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship primary election in Edo state,  has petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and the party’s National Working Committee.

In a move to protest the results declared by the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee and Imo state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma affirming Dennis Idahosa as winner of the exercise, Dekeri had on Monday stormed the secretariat at about 1:10 pm formally presented a letter requesting the Ganduje-led NWC to immediately issue him a certificate of return.

The federal lawmaker who spent less than 10 minutes at the secretariat had earlier made straight for the office of the National Chairman and presented the one-page letter.

It was learned that the one-page letter personally signed by him requested the NWC to issue him with the certificate of return, having polled the highest votes in the election and having been returned by the local government returning officers.

…I won primaries with over 6,000 votes — Senator Okpebholo claims

Another candidate who claims to have emerged winner from Saturday’s All Progressives Congress APC Governorship Primary Election in Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo has revealed how he defeated his closest rival, Dennis Idahosa with over 6,000 votes to emerge victorious.

In a statement issued Monday in Abuja, Senator Okpebholo said though thugs disrupted the collation, the final tally shows that he won convincingly with a commanding majority.

Urging his supporters to remain calm and that justice will be served at the end of the day, the Edo Central senator said as candidate of the party, he is certain of reclaiming the State for the APC.

He said, “Let me use this opportunity to thank and appreciate all APC members of Edo State for nominating me as the Party’s Candidate for the governorship election come September 2024. I am immensely humbled by the trust and confidence reposed in me.

“You will recall that the National Working Committee NWC of our great Party, APC, nominated highly reputable officials to officiate in the primary election scheduled for the 17th of February 2024 with Dr. Stanley Ugboaja, as the State Returning Officer.

“After the primary election, which was adjudged to be very peaceful, the collation of results commenced at the designated centre by the collation officials in the presence of INEC officials, the Press, the law enforcement agencies and other party stalwarts.

“Surprisingly, while the collation of results was ongoing and upon the declaration of eight local governments, some irate thugs, suspectedly commissioned by my closest rival, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, who had only won two local Governments as against my six, stormed the venue of the state collation center and disrupted the process by beating up collation officials, party representatives, the press crew and others.

“To my amazement and that of well-meaning members of our great party in Edo State, information currently reaching me from Benin City, Edo State has it that the same thugs that disrupted the collation of results as earlier stated, also invaded the State Secretariat of the party early this morning, destroyed and looted valuables in the offices in the guise of purportedly looking for the result of the primary election, which was never conducted by the State Executives of the party.

“Let me use this opportunity to commend the State Returning Officer, Dr. Stanley Ugboaja and other members of the Committee for their resilience in continuing the collation and subsequent official declaration of final results after the urgent medical attention rendered to the injured members.

“It is now on record that the total votes scored by me is twelve thousand, one hundred and forty-five (12,145) as against my closest rival who scored only five thousand, five hundred and thirty-six votes (5,536).

“As a result, I enjoin you not to be deterred by rumours from other quarters as I am very optimistic that justice will prevail in the end. I am convinced that the National Working Committee of our great party, under the able leadership of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will ensure that truth will prevail over falsehood. I remain loyal to my party and to Mr. President, a universally acknowledged democrat and a man of goodwill who is prepared to change the fortunes of our dear nation.

“I am also convinced beyond doubt that our great party, the APC, is well positioned to reclaim Edo State and set her on the path of sustainable and holistic development in line with Mr. President’s transformation agenda.

“Let me use this medium to plead with all those affected by the unprovoked attack to shield their swords as two wrongs cannot make a right. This is an in-house squabble and should be treated as such.”