Ahead of tomorrow’s rescheduled Edo governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has been dropped as the Chairman of the seven member Electoral Committee.
In place of Uzodinma is Mr. Bassey Etu, the erstwhile deputy chairman of the committee just as Alhaji Shettima Shehu is the new addition in place of a delisted Uzodinma while Alhaji Rabiu Suleiman remained as the secretary.
In a statement in Abuja Wednesday by Alhaji Suleiman Mohammed Argungu and titled “Revised 2024 Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election and Primary Election Appeal Committee”, Dr. Stanley Ugboaja still remained as a member of the Secretariat (Primary Election/Primary Election Committee Committee) while Dr. Wamba Ahmed Suleiman will chair the Election Appeal Committee which has Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed as secretary.
Marred by violence, intimidation and thuggery,the February 17 primary had produced three winners in the person of Senator Monday “Akpakomiza” Okpebholo, House of Representatives member Mr Denis “Denco” Idahosa (Ovia Federal Constituency) and Mr. Sunday Anamero Dekeri, his counterpart from Etsako Federal Constituency.
While the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the primary, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma had announced Idahosa as winner, the chief returning officer, Dr. Stanley Ugboaja, declared Okpebholo as the winner.
At Auchi, Mr. Ojo Babatunde, who claimed to be representing the returning officers in all the local governments declared Dekeri as the winner of the election.
Following the confusion that ensued, both Dekeri and Okpebholo had written to the appeal committee of the party to demand their certificates of return.
Another aspirant, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, insisted on Tuesday that no election held in the state contrary to results that were announced.