Edo: Senator Okpebholo Declared Winner in Parallel APC Primary

Senator Monday Okpebholo has emerged as the winner in a parallel governorship primary election conducted by a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. The APC State Returning Officer, Ogbuaja Stanley Uzoamaka, announced Okpebholo’s victory following an exercise held in Benin City on Saturday.

This declaration followed an earlier announcement by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who heads the APC election committee for Edo State, declaring Dennis Idahosa as the winner of the poll. The Uzodimma group dismissed this declaration, asserting that the Imo governor’s role is purely ceremonial.

The election conducted by Uzodimma’s group faced disruptions from suspected thugs who stormed the results collation venue in the GRA area of Edo State. Chaos ensued as chairs and cameras were thrown away, causing APC officials and journalists to scramble for safety. The election officials were compelled to change the venue of the collation exercise.

Governor Uzodimma attributed the chaos to a mixup about the collation venue, maintaining that his declaration of Idahosa as the winner was made in the correct location. The APC, despite clearing 12 candidates for the election, witnessed the withdrawal of Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the party’s flagbearer in the 2020 governorship election, on the eve of this year’s primary election.