Ahead of Thursday’s continuation of the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress APC, leading aspirants in the exercise have rejected the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, as Chairman of the Elections Committee.
In a joint statement signed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and General Charles Airhiavbere (retd), the aspirants, said Uzodinma did not observe the minimum requirements for compliance with the relevant provisions of the extant laws and regulations guiding the election as provided both in the Electoral Act and in the APC Constitution.
The National Working Committee NWC of the APC had declared as inconclusive, last Saturday’s Governorship Primary Election in Edo state.
The decision was taken late Tuesday after an emergency meeting of the NWC.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, which lasted for about three hours, APC spokesman, Felix Morka, said; “The NWC resolves that the Edo State governorship primary election has not been completed and has now fixed Thursday, February 22, 2024, for the completion of the APC primary election process.”
He declined further media inquiries.
Local Government returning officers for the primary election, led by Babatunde Ojo had on Saturday declared Anamero Dekeri, a serving House of Representatives member, winner of the exercise.
The development came after the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee and Imo state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma had declared another federal lawmaker Dennis Idahosa winner of the exercise.
On his part, returning Officer of the exercise, Stanley Ugboaja had declared Senator Monday Okpebholo as winner.
The three “candidates” had since demanded that the NWC issue them a Certificate of Return.
However, in their statement, the aspirants said; “We strongly believe that whatever was responsible for his flagrant disregard for due process and unusual hasty declaration of unconfirmed fictitious results of the primaries outside the designated collation center may not have abated from his mind, and therefore may be repeated if allowed to play the same role as chairman in the process.
In the circumstance, we are calling on Mr President to kindly use his good offices to replace Senator Hope Uzodinma with any other respected member of our great party, as chairman whom the President strongly believes will comply with the law, maintain internal democracy, protect and defend the integrity and goodwill of the President which he has attained over the years that endeared him to both national and international stakeholders.
Furthermore, we believe that this is the only way to remedy the ridicule and embarrassment that Uzodinma’s tactless and overzealous behavior, which in the view of keen observers of happenings in the ongoing process of nominating a viable candidate of our party, runs within the borderline of mischief and clotted with antidemocratic vestments, unknown to law.
We have implicit confidence in Mr. President’s devotion to justice, equity, and fairness in the process that will produce the Gubernatorial Candidate of our party in Edo State which is now rescheduled for tomorrow 22nd February 2024, and also ensure victory for our party in the governorship election that is scheduled for September 2024,” the statement added.
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