Redaction Africa Links 24 with Legit.ng
Published on 2024-02-17 15:35:46
A fierce contest was witnessed at the APC primaries as aspirants vied for the ticket of the ruling party ahead of the forthcoming election in Edo state. Despite the attempt by suspected thugs to disrupt the process, Dennis Idahosa, a prominent figure in Edo APC, emerged as the governorship candidate and garnered support from party delegates and members.
Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma’s led committee, made the announcement of Idahosa’s emergence as the APC governorship candidate on Saturday, February 17. This was a significant victory for Idahosa, who is a member of the House of Representatives. The announcement came following the party’s primary election, with Governor Hope Uzodimma declaring Idahosa as the APC flagbearer in Benin City, Edo state.
Dennis Idahosa’s victory was characterized by a significant number of votes, as he reportedly polled over 40,000 votes to defeat other contestants. This marked his official endorsement as the party’s flagbearer for the upcoming Edo state governorship election, set to take place in September 2024.
Prior to Idahosa’s victory, the APC primaries faced challenges when armed thugs invaded Lushville Hotel and Suites, where the collation venue was located. The thugs disrupted the collation exercise, attacked APC stakeholders, and caused injuries to journalists, as well as damage to their equipment.
In another significant turn of events, Ernest Umakhihe, a former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, withdrew from the race on the platform of the APC. His withdrawal was aimed at fostering peace and unity within the party. In a statement released by Umakhihe and dated February 16, he indicated his support for Dennis Idahosa, describing him as “the choice of the party.”
Overall, Dennis Idahosa’s emergence as the APC governorship candidate in Edo state marks a significant development in the state’s political landscape. His victory was a result of a hard-fought contest and garnered widespread support from both party delegates and members. As the spotlight turns to the upcoming governorship election in September 2024, all eyes will be on Idahosa as he prepares to lead the party to victory in the state.
This article originally appeared on Legit.ng and was written by journalist Ether Odili, who has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements in Nigeria. For more updates on Edo state politics and other related news, visit the Legit.ng website.
Read the original article on Legit.ng
