Following the controversies that trailed the recently concluded primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, the party now desperately looks for common ground to put its house in order
By Alltimepost.com
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has inaugurated a Reconciliation Committee to reach out to members who may feel aggrieved from the outcome of the gubernatorial Primaries of the party Last Saturday in Benin City.
The State Party Chairman , Mr. Anselm Ojezua in a statement said the committee will be chaired by Prince Malik Afegbua, Board of Trustees member of the party.
Other members of the Reconciliation Committee, according to the statement, are Hon. Lucky Imasuen, Mr. Austin Omofuma, Hon. Charles Idahosa, Hon. Theophilus Okoh, Senator Domingo Obende and Hon. Lawrence Okah.
In a statement, Mr. Ojezua said “the Governorship Primaries of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State on Saturday, 18th June 2016 has been the most successful Primaries ever conducted by the APC in Nigeria. It was peaceful, transparent, free and fair.”
“We give thanks to the Almighty God, for His comprehensive control of the entire process, our thanks also goes to His Excellency, Alhaji Bello Masari the Governor of Katsina State and Chairman of the committee that conducted the primaries; through him, we extend our gratitude to each and every member of the Committee that worked to ensure the successful conduct of the event.
“We remain eternally grateful to all Delegates ably led by the Comrade Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole for the patience, perseverance and outstanding conduct throughout the process which lasted almost 24 hours.
“The result of the election is a clear indication that the APC in Edo State is strong and united contrary to the falsehood earlier peddled in the media that Edo State APC was in crisis.
“I have this morning inaugurated a Reconciliation Committee headed by Prince Malik Afegbua (member BOT) to reach out to all those who may have been affected one way or the other by processes leading to and including the primaries.
“This is in order to position the party to confront the general election which comes up on the 10th of September 2016.”
It would be recalled that the APC primary election in Edo State was greeted by controversies, revolving around allegations of irregularities by some disenchanted and defeated aspirants, including Nigeria’s former Minister of State for Works, Engr. (Dr.) Chris Ogiemwonyi and Kenneth Imasuangbon, popularly known as the riceman.
On Monday June 20, 2016, the Duo addressed a joint press conference where they denounced the nomination exercise, describing it as flawed. They both said the figures recorded by Obaseki were electronically generated and not the true reflection of the voting pattern.
The two aspirants were also reported to have stormed out of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium venue of the primary election before votes counting was concluded last Saturday.
In the primary election, Mr. Godwin Obaseki was declared winner, having polled
1,618 votes. Imasuagbon received 247 votes, while Ogiemwonyi got 137.
Meanwhile, another aggrieved aspirant and most seemingly humiliated of them all, the serving Deputy Governor, Dr. (Hon.) Pius Egberhanmwen Odubu has not publicly reacted.
Alltimepost.com gathered from a reliable source close to his campaign that they were weighing all options and would make a pronouncement at the appropriate time.
What makes Odubu’s case difficult is that having been scolded for several years as too loyal to his boss, he failed to secure the endorsement of the Principal (Governor Adams Oshiomhole) in the much contested APC primary election that paraded not less than ten aspirants in the state.
On the contrary the people’s democratic party (PDP) defied all speculations about their inability to hold a primary election in the state on the scheduled date of June 20, 2016 due to intra-party squabbles at the national level of the party.
Not only was PDP able to conduct the primary election, but the exercise was also devoid of controversies, the type that erupted from the APC camp.
The party members left the venue of the contest, with those who lost, Mathew Iduoiyekemwen and Kenneth Imasuangbon, promising to work with victorious Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, whom the PDP now hope will wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress on September 10, 2016.
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