Dennis Idahosa, a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives has been declared as the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) candidate for Edo State September 2024 governorship race.
Idahosa was declared the winner of the primary election by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, the Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee Chairman on Saturday afternoon in Benin, the Edo State capital, according to report by the Vanguard.
Idahosa was said to have polled over 40,000 votes to clinch the APC governorship ticket for the Edo September 2024 governorship election.
However, information reaching Alltimepost.com, following the declaration said a parallel announcement was also made by Dr Uzoamaka Ugboaja, the Chief Returning Officer, declaring Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC representative for Edo Central Senatorial District as winner of the contest. An update would be provided on the story.
Before these announcements, there was some drama as suspected thugs disrupted the collation exercise, forcing the election committee to change venue.
The suspected thugs had invaded the venue, and thrown away cameras belonging to journalists, leading to officials and the pressmen scampering for safety.
But Governor Uzodimma explained that there was a mix-up about the collation venue. He said the candidate was announced in the right venue.
The APC had a few days back cleared twelve aspirants to contest the party’s primary election. But Osagie Ize-Iyamu who flew the APC flag in the 2020 governorship poll withdrew from the race on the eve of the exercise.
Chaos and confusion at Edo APC gubernatorial primaries
Earlier, the National Working Committee of the APC denied a live broadcast on major national television stations and online news outlets of results of the ongoing Edo State APC Governorship Primary .
In a statement, Mr Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary said, “I wish to state categorically that only the Governor Hope Uzodinma-Led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee is duly authorized to undertake final collation and announcement of results of the Primary Election in the State.
“We urge all Party members, officials in the State, and the general public to disregard the said announcement of results by these unauthorized persons”.
The statement said: “Ironically the unauthorized persons were led by Dr Uzoamaka Ugboaja, the Chief Returning Officer. His results had Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC representative for Edo Central Senatorial District, emerging victorious in six out of the eight local government areas declared by the Local Government Returning Officers with him.”
