A crisis seems to be setting in at the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has to members are laying claim to the gubernatorial ticket of the party.
Governor Hope Uzodinma, the Chairman of the seven-man electoral committee for the Edo governorship election had on Saturday afternoon, declared a House of Representatives member, Hon. Dennis Idahosa as the winner of the exercise.
But a few hours later, the returning officer of the committee, Dr Stanley Ugboajah, announced Sen. Monday Okpenholo as the winner of the election.
Uzodimma had while announcing the earlier results, said the election was peaceful across the 18 local governments and 192 wards and that Idahosa polled 40,453 votes to emerge winner.
But Ugboajah said Sen. Monday Okpepholo polled 12,145 votes to defeat the other contestants.
He said Idahosa scored 5,536 votes to emerge second.
His words, “I hereby certify that Monday Okpepholo, having scored the highest votes, is declared winner and duly returned as APC candidate for the election.”
Meanwhile, a statement from the National Secretariat disclaimed what it called the unauthorized announcement of the primary election results.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka Esq said, “The attention of the National Working Committee of our great party has been drawn to a live broadcast on major national television stations and online news outlets of the results of the ongoing Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election by some unauthorized persons.
“We wish to state categorically that only the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee is duly authorized to undertake the final collation and announcement of the 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.”
