Dennis Idahosa, a member of the House of Representatives, secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidacy for the upcoming Edo State Governorship election.
The announcement, made by Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chair of the Edo State Governorship Primary Election Committee, took place in Benin City after the party’s primary election.
Idahosa emerged victorious with over 40,000 votes, outperforming other contenders and earning the right to represent the APC in the September 2024 governorship poll.
Prior to the declaration, the event faced disruptions as suspected thugs interrupted the collation exercise, prompting a change of venue. Chaos ensued, with thugs seizing cameras from journalists, causing officials and press members to scatter for safety.
Governor Uzodimma clarified the situation, citing a mixup in the collation venue but assuring that the candidate’s announcement occurred in the correct location.
In response to concerns about a potential parallel primary, the APC assured its supporters that only the results declared by the Uzodimma committee would be recognized.
“We wish to state categorically that only the Governor Hope Uzodinma-Led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee is duly authorised to undertake the final collation and announcement of results of the Primary Election in the State,” the party’s spokesman Felix Morka said in a statement.
“We urge all party members, officials in the State, and the general public to disregard the said announcement of results by these unauthorised persons.”
Earlier, individuals from the APC in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State informed the media that the election transpired in a peaceful manner.
A few days prior, the APC had approved twelve aspirants to participate in the party’s primary election. However, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who represented the APC in the 2020 governorship poll, withdrew from the race on the eve of the scheduled exercise..
