Fall Out From Edo APC Primaries: State Sec., Julius Ihonvbere Resigns

Benin, Edo, Nigeria – By Ola Airenakho

Following his unexpected defeat at the Edo North Senatorial District primaries of the All Progressive Congress last Sunday, the Secretary to the state government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere resigned his appointment yesterday.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Peter Okiria has accepted his resignation.
The Governor thanked him for his services to the Government and the state and wished him well in his future endeavors.

Prof. Ihonvbere was defeated by grass root politician, Rtd. Major Francis Alimekhena who will carry his party’s flag in the senatorial election of February 2015. The incumbent senator, Obende Domingo also lost in his re-election bid.

Prof. Ihonvbere is from Owan West, one of the six, including Owan East, Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako West and Etsako East Local Government Areas that make up Edo North Senatorial District.

A source close to the former secretary of state disclosed that he had allegedly vowed to resign his appointment if he failed in his bid to win the Edo North senatorial district ticket of his party which he was largely expected to win due to his relationship with the governor.

Alltimepost.com also gathered that he felt disappointed by the Governor whom he hoped would support him to clinch victory, considering the encouragement he received form his boss to run.

A reliable source close to the state government who begged for anonymity told Alltimepost.com that Governor Oshiomhole had told all candidates to go to the fields and work as he did not want to be seen as either endorsing or imposing candidate on the people.

It was learnt that the governor’s encouragement of the various candidates who indicated interest to run was not an endorsement and that those who thought otherwise and worked along that line had a wrong perception of the whole political calculations.

Professor Ihonvbere was special adviser on program and policy monitoring to former Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo under the People’s Democratic Party.

He left his job with Obasanjo to seek the Edo sate governorship nomination on the platform of PDP in 2007, a contest he lost to fellow Professor, Oserheimen Osunbor who later won the election that was mired in controversy, following alleged voting irregularities.

It was declared invalid on March 20, 2008 by the State Election Tribunal which subsequently awarded victory to Governor Adams Oshiomhole who ran on the platform of then Action Congress in a historic judgment.

In 2012, Ihonvbere, a professor of political science was appointed by Comrade Oshiomhole as the secretary to the state government after he decamped from the PDP.

Now that he has suffered another humiliating defeat, analysts wonder what his next line of action would be.

As at press time, Professor Ihonvbere could not be reached for comment.