Edo APC Members Protest at National Secretariat, Contest Legitimacy of Okpebholo’s Victory

Edo State’s All Progressives Congress (APC) members have vehemently criticized the declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the winner of the rescheduled Edo governorship primary election. They assert that the declaration is not only unlawful but a blatant violation of the party’s constitution.

The disgruntled party members converged at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Monday, characterizing last Thursday’s governorship primary as a “daylight robbery.” The primary, initially held on February 17 under the supervision of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, produced three candidates: Dennis Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and Anamero Dekeri.

In response to controversies, the party leadership ousted Uzodinma as the chairman of the primary election, replacing him with Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu. The subsequent rescheduled election on February 22 resulted in Monday Okpebholo emerging as the APC gubernatorial candidate for the September 2024 election.

During a protest in Abuja, Innocent Ogedengbe, the leader of the dissenting group, addressed journalists and demanded the reinstatement of Dennis Idahosa’s mandate by the party. Ogedengbe emphasized that the February 22 primary did not align with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, as aspirants were allegedly not afforded equal voting opportunities at designated ward centers in Edo State.

He accused the party of not recording the votes of present members and claimed that result sheets used were completed at the National Secretariat, diverging from the actual situation in Edo State. Ogedengbe insisted, “The said primaries of 17th and 22nd February 2024 were not conducted by open secret ballot by APC as required by relevant provisions of APC constitution, and the declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo is not only unlawful but a gross violation of the APC constitution.”

The group’s plea is for the party to overturn the alleged injustice by the Governor Bassey Otu committee and declare Hon. Dennis Idahosa the rightful winner based on available documentary evidence.