The aftermath of Saturday’s Edo State governorship primary election within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has given rise to increased controversies, with the emergence of a third candidate, Mr. Anamero Dakeri.
Despite Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, who chaired the seven-man election committee, declaring Dennis Idahosa as the winner, the Returning Officer, Dr. Stanley Ugboajah, announced Senator Monday Okpebholo as the victor at a private residence where one of the aspirants had withdrawn.
Adding to the complexity, local government returning officers later declared Anamero Dakeri as the winner, claiming he received 25,384 votes compared to Idahosa’s 14,127.
Consequently, three individuals, Idahosa (Edo South), Okpebholo (Edo Central), and Dakeri (Edo North), are now asserting themselves as APC candidates for the September 21 governorship election.
While Idahosa, backed by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and some APC leaders, called for collaboration among stakeholders to secure victory for the APC, Dakeri accepted the party members’ choice and extended a hand of fellowship to fellow aspirants for the collective success of the party.
In contrast, Senator Okpebholo disputed Governor Ganduje’s congratulatory message to Idahosa, citing controversies surrounding the results’ announcement.
Prince Clem Agba, another aspirant, criticized the exercise, claiming disenfranchisement and asserting that the votes did not count.
Agba, a former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, declared his intention to seek redress while remaining a loyal APC member.
Furthermore, the APC Stakeholders Forum urged the national chairman of the party to disregard the results declared by Uzodimma, asserting that he was not the chief returning officer.
Accusing the Uzodimma committee of overstepping local government returning officers’ responsibilities, they called on Ganduje and President Bola Tinubu to reject Uzodimma’s declaration of Idahosa as the winner, claiming he did not emerge victorious in the primaries.
The situation underscores the deep-seated divisions and controversies within the APC regarding the Edo State primary.