Politics
New Crisis In APC As Oshiomole’s Ally, Idahosa Asks INEC To Reject Edo Guber Candidate
The All Progressives Congress (APC) could be headed for a major crisis ahead of the Edo 2024 governorship election following the decision of one of the major aspirants, Rep Dennis Idahosa who is aligned with Senator Adams Oshiomhole to reject the final result which produced Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Besides rejecting the result, Idahosa has gone further to ask the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to reject the nomination of Okpbebholo as the APC candidate for Edo State setting the scene for a major crisis in the party.
GWG.ng is unable to confirm if he has the support of Oshiomhole in his latest venture.
Idahosa, was the purported winner of the controversial February 17 APC governorship primary in Edo State as announced by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, chairman of the party’s election team. However, that election was characterised by irregularities and led to the crisis that produced two other winners as announced by different tendencies within the Edo State chapter of the APC.
Following the crisis, the party mandated Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State to conduct a repeat primary which was generally accepted by all other APC aspirants in Edo State with the notable exception of Idahosa.
Idahosa Rejects Okpebholo as APC Candidate
In a letter dated March 4, 2024, addressed to the Chairman of INEC by his legal representation, Wole Olanipekun & Co, Idahosa asserted that the first primary election was the only that the commission should recognised.
Idahosa discredited the APC primary for the election of the candidate for Edo State held on February 22, 2024, where he received 6,541 votes upon the crisis, labeling it a sham, and urged INEC to disregard it
The letter, signed by Bode Olanipekun [SAN], emphasized the authenticity of the February 17 primary, where Idahosa purportedly secured 40,453 votes, backed by INEC’s monitored report and certification.
He said:
“The record of INEC/the Commission will show that, under your leadership, the Commission monitored the Edo State APC primary election for the nomination of the Governorship candidate of the APC pursuant to the prior notification that the primary election will specifically hold on 17th of February, 2024.
“The primary election was indeed held, and i garnered 40,453 votes, a copy of the result certified by INEC is attached herein with this letter.
“INEC’s report of monitoring the election confirms that, at the end of the process, i was returned as the duly elected candidate of the APC, a copy of the INEC report as certified by the Commission is attached.
“The APC primary election committee that conducted the election also confirmed that i won the election as evidenced by a report signed by all members of the committee (without a single instance of dissent).
“The APC subsequently confirmed to INEC that the orimary election held as scheduled on 17th February, 2024; however, without giving any reason, indicated that the election was inconclusive and will be completed on 22nd February, 2024 and invited INEC to monitor the completion exercise.”
In a tone that could trigger a major crisis for the party, Idahosa demanded that INEC acknowledge the February 17 APC primary and the winner as announced as the nominated candidate for the upcoming Edo State governorship election slated for September
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