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Published on 2024-02-21 05:13:27
The All Progressives Congress (APC) announced the nullification of its Saturday governorship primary election in Edo state. This development was announced by Felix Morka, the spokesperson of the party, after an emergency meeting of the Abdullahi Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday night.
Governor Hope Uzodinma, the chairman of the election committee, had initially announced Dennis Idahosa as the winner of the poll. However, two other victors later emerged, leading to controversy and confusion within the party.
The primary election, which was conducted on Saturday, February 17, has been declared as inconclusive, leading to protests by members of the party. The committee, led by Governor Uzodinma, had announced Dennis Idahosa, a member of the House of Representatives, as the winner of the election. However, another winner, Senator Monday Okpebholo, was announced by a returning officer for the election, which was held at the residence of the former governorship candidate of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in Benin.
Later that same day, Ojo Babatunde, the spokesperson of the local government returning officers, announced Anamero Sunday Dekeri, the lawmaker representing the Etsako Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, as the winner of the primary. These conflicting announcements led to protests by women and youths of the party, who stormed the APC secretariat and chased members of the state working committee out of the office.
This led to Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the party, to issue a statement announcing the nullification of the primary election. He further announced that the Edo State governorship primary election has not been completed and has fixed Thursday, February 22, 2024, for the completion of the APC primary election process.
The nullification of the primary election has sparked various reactions from party members and observers, with many expressing their concerns over the integrity and transparency of the APC’s internal electoral process. Some have accused the party leadership of favoritism and bias in the conduct of the primary, leading to the emergence of conflicting results and winners.
The controversy surrounding the APC primary election in Edo state has raised questions about the party’s ability to conduct free, fair, and credible internal elections. Many are calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the nullification of the primary and for measures to be put in place to ensure that future elections are conducted in a transparent and credible manner.
The nullification of the APC primary election in Edo state has also cast a shadow of doubt over the party’s preparedness for the upcoming general elections. It remains to be seen how the party will address the concerns raised by its members and ensure that its internal electoral processes are free from manipulation and irregularities.
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