After the All Progressives Congress primary election for the September 2024 governorship election in Edo State, one of the topmost aspirants, Senator Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, on Friday advised his teeming supporters to remain steadfast for further instructions.
About a week ago, the Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Monday Okpebholo, was declared the governorship candidate of the APC at the rescheduled party’s primary election in Edo State.
In a message of solidarity to his supporters which he signed, Osunbor noted that it’s glaring that, “The National Working Committee of our party that conducted the primaries is satisfied with the outcome and has issued a Certificate of Return to Senator Monday Okpebholo as the party candidate. This is already public knowledge.
“The Senator has paid me a visit to solicit my support and those of my teeming followers. That initial visit, it was agreed, will be followed soon by more detailed discussions. Be rest assured that you will be carried along as the talks progress. The outcome of the discussions will influence our collective decision and next line of action.
“The events connected with the process, conduct and outcome of the APC governorship primary election in Edo State in the past fortnight or so have, no doubt, left many of you bewildered, disappointed and confused. As you are aware, I issued statements to express my personal displeasure about what we saw which fell very much below our expectations. Many of you have reached out to me to seek direction as to our next line of action.
“It is now clear that the National Working Committee of our party that conducted the primaries is satisfied with the outcome and has issued a Certificate of Return to Senator Monday Okpebholo as the party candidate. This is already public knowledge.
“The Senator has paid me a visit to solicit my support and those of my teeming followers. That initial visit, it was agreed, will be followed soon by more detailed discussions. Be rest assured that you will be carried along as the talks progress. The outcome of the discussions will influence our collective decision and next line of action.
“Let me use this opportunity, once again, to thank you all for your forbearance, steadfastness and unwavering support through the months and years that we worked together to bring about the Rebirth of EDO FOR EXCELLENCE. May God richly bless you for your sacrifices.”
Recall that the trio of Senator Okpebholo, Hon. Dennis Idahosa and Hon. Anamero Dekeri, had last weekend laid claims to the party’s governorship ticket following a controversial exercise, a development that created division among the NWC members of the APC and the Governor Hope Uzodinma, the erstwhile chairman of the party’s electoral panel for the state.
Uzodinma had declared Idahosa as the winner while while the Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Dr Stanley Ugboajah, declared Okpebholo as winner at another location.
Also, another group of electoral officials declared Dekeri as the winner of the primary election.
But, days after, the National leadership of APC declared the initial exercise as inconclusive and fixed Thursday, February 22, 2024 for the completion of the exercise. It later appointed the governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, as chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee to complete the assignment.
Meanwhile, announcing the final results on Friday in Benin City after collating results from the 18 Local Government Areas of the State, Governor Otu said Senator Okpebholo polled a 12,433 votes to defeat 11 other aspirants, who contested the direct primary election.
Otu announced the votes scored by aspirants as follows: Blessing Agbomhere, 731 votes; Charles Airhiavbere, 1,181; Osagie Ize-Iyamu, 378; Senator Monday Okpebholo, 12,433; Dennis Idahosa, 6,541; Clem Agba, 2,732; Lucky Imansuen, 493; David Imuse, 423; Oserhiemen Osunbor, 634; Gideon Ikhine, 728; Anamero Dekeri, 2,566, and Ernest Umakhine, 2,117.
Otu said 12 aspirants contested for the party’s governorship ticket and Senator Okpebholo, having satisfied all the requirements and having scored the highest number of votes, was declared the winner.
He specifically thanked officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies, adding that in every contest there must be a winner and a loser and appealed to other aspirants to rally round Okpebholo.
He called on all members of the party to remain united in order to ensure victory for the party in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
