By Ohuakanwa Chibuzo
Following the tumultuous events of last Saturday’s Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Primary Election, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has officially declared the shadow election inconclusive. During an emergency meeting held on Tuesday night at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, the National Working Committee made the decision to deliberate on the election report submitted by Governor Hope Uzodinma’s primary election committee.
According to sources, the National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the outcome of the election, although details of their meeting were not disclosed to the public.
National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, addressing reporters after the three-hour meeting, stated that the NWC concluded the primary election was incomplete based on the submitted report. Consequently, the NWC has scheduled Thursday, February 22, 2024, for the completion of the primary election process.
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Despite efforts to obtain further details on the upcoming Thursday exercise, Morka declined to provide additional comments.
Tensions further escalated as three of the ten aspirants who participated in the election are now laying claim to victory. Additionally, two aspirants withdrew from the election mere hours before it commenced.
Governor Hope Uzodinma’s Primary Election Committee initially declared Hon. Dennis Idahosa the winner with 40,453 votes. However, Senator Okpebholo was declared winner by the Chief Returning Officer, Dr. Stanley Ugboaja, and Hon. Anamero Sunday Dekeri claimed victory according to the spokesman of local government returning officers, Mr. Ojo Babatunde.
As of Tuesday’s close of business, three aspirants have filed petitions with the Appeal Committee and the office of the national chairman of the party. Dekeri and Okpebholo have demanded certificates of return, while Osunbor called for the outright cancellation of the exercise, alleging no election took place in the 192 wards of the State last Saturday.
The three petitioners were scheduled to appear before the election appeal committee on Wednesday, but the recent developments have cast uncertainty over the process.