Posted by On behalf of Concerned Stakeholders, a number of Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) members have voiced their concern that the party could suffer a defeat in the upcoming September 21 governorship election if Senator Monday Okpebholo, who was duly elected as the winner of Saturday’s governorship primary, is disqualified from running.
After Okpebholo was officially declared the winner of the primaries, the group characterized Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State’s decision to announce Hon. Dennis Idahosa as the winner as a complete and utter act of brigandage, as it went against all known protocols and guidelines for conducting party primaries.
The group demanded that President Bola Tinubu and APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje intervene swiftly to prevent the party’s defeat in the next governorship election in Edo State and to guarantee justice is served.
On behalf of the group, Counsel to the Concerned APC Stakeholders, Barrister Douglas Ogbankwa (Esq.), spoke to journalists in Benin City on Tuesday and denounced the brutal assault on NUJ members. The NUJ members were present at the primary election site to fulfill their constitutional duty as society’s watchdogs.
“Stanley Uzomaka Ugboaja is the only known and respected chief returner for the Edo 2024 governorship primaries,” the organization said, quoting the APC National Working Committee. The role of Governor Hope Uzodinma in the process was purely ceremonial.
He is not obligated to announce the outcome. Since Dr. Ugboaja dutifully reported the results, we are concerned that the All Progressives Congress would be left without a candidate for the Edo 2024 governorship election if INEC receives information about another candidate who has not been announced by the officer obligated to do so.