The Edo state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) may have entered into a deeper crisis ahead of the September 21 governorshiip election in the state, as Jon. Denis Idahosa has rejected the outcome of last Thursday’s governorshiip primary election that produced Eco Central senator, Monday Okpebholo as candidate of the party
This is as the APC National Working Committee (NWC) had at the weekend, issued Certificate of Return to Okpebholo recognizing his as the party’s candidate for the upcoming election
Hon. Idahosa who led a mass protest to demand for his recognition at the APC secretariat,moments before the presentation of the certificate to Okpebholo, threatened to challenge the decision of the APC NWC, as he mainty that he remains the elected candidate of the APC for the governorshiip ticket as declared by the Governor Hope Uzodimma led Primary Election
Recall that Hon. Idahosa was earlier declared winner in the first primary election that was however rejected by the APC NWC who later fixed last Thursday for fresh primary
The NWC while fixing the new date also announced Cross Rivers state Governor Basset Otu as replacement for Governor Uzodimma
While presenting the Certificate of Return to the candidate, APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said the party is on the way to win the election having produced a sellable candidate.
Ganduje said: “Three aspirants were declared as “candidates” That process was not concluded and I asked the Committee to go back. Coincidentally, the chairman of the Committee had a presentation to make at the National Economic Council and that’s why he could not go back to conclude the exercise.
That was why his deputy, Governor of Cross Rivers State became the new chairman.
“I am happy to tell you that as we directed, as we monitored, the Direct Primaries took place in 192 wards. We have the record, the results were collated in each local govt and the results are with us. The results were announced after collation. As a result, Senator Okpebholo scored the highest votes and therefore declared the winner.
“Some of the aspirants came forward to congratulate him. Those who couldn’t, from the report ,we heard, they also called his line.
“What is important to us is to win Edo state. We knew what happened in the past, but now we are in the way to win that election, because we believe that we have a product that is sellable, refined, well packaged, a product that we can deliver.”
In his acceptance speech, Senator Okpebholo said his ambition to become the next Edo State governor was not based on tribal and ethnic inclinations or religious calculations but to build develop the state for the people.
“I shall leverage on the collective strength of all of us and the passion for a greater Edo. I am humbly requesting all my brothers and sisters who contested the primaries with me, to put the contest behind and join me in the challenging task of making Edo State heart beat again with development across the broad spectrum of human endeavour.“This journey of meaningful development has no respect for tribal and ethnic inclinations nor religious calculations. It is about building Edo by Edo people.
“I will immediately embark on visitation to our political leaders and my co- contestants for unity of purpose. WE ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER and by God’s grace our great Party APC will return to Osadebe Avenue come November this year.”Earlier, Hon Idahosa, who was initially declared winner of the primary election by the Imo State governor Hope Uzodimma, also threatened to drag the party to court if justice is not done to him.