Edo 2024: APC stakeholders reject Uzodinma’s candidate, Idahosa, at primary, uphold Okpeholo as winner

Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State under the aegis of Concerned Edo APC Stakeholders have rejected the party’s governorship aspirant declared by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Dennis Idahosa, as winner of the APC primary election on February 17; they uphold Monday Okpeholo as winner of the primary election, and therefore, APC governorship candidate in the state.

Counsel To The Concerned APC Stakeholders, Douglas Ogbankwa, in a statement protested that Governor Hope Uzodinma was not around all through the processes of the Organisation of the Primaries, adding that the Imo Governor only showed up to announce false results late, when he is not the Chief Returning Officer for the primary election as provided for by the APC Constitution.

Dennis Idahosa announced Edo APC Gov candidate by Hope Uzodinma

Ogbankwa declared that “the action Governor Hope Uzodinma took in announcing a false result was ultra vires his powers, as announcement of results is not within his job description, as provided for by the APC Constitution.”

The Concerned Edo APC Stakeholders argued that the only exercise observed by the Independent National Elections (INEC), as provided for by Electoral Act, 2020, was the Exercise that produced Senator Monday Okpeholo as the APC governorship candidate for the Edo State governorship election, noting that INEC inserted its imprimatur in the Results Sheets which were issued in the official APC Result Sheets, as opposed to the one handed over to Hope Uzodinma for announcement by Hon Dennis Idahosa ‘s Chief campaign Manager.

They further protested that there was no collation and transmission process in the purported result announcing Dennis Idahosa as winner of the primary, arguing that the purported announcement was an arrangement of friends, which did not follow the process provided for by the Electoral Act.
The Concerned Edo APC Stakeholders asserted that the venue approved by INEC for the 17th February, 2024, APC Primaries in Edo State is Lushville Hotel, Gapiona Avenue, GRA., Benin City, and no other place.

According to them, “This Venue is known to all participants in the Primaries and Protea Hotel, Benin City, is not a venue on record known to INEC.
“Any activity that purportedly took place at Protea Hotel, Benin City, on the issue of the announcement of the APC Primaries in Edo State is nullity .
They maintained that “the only recognized and recognizable Chief Returning Officer for the Edo 2024 Governorship Primaries appointed by the APC National Working Committee is Stanley Uzomaka Ugboaja Phd.

“Governor Hope Uzodinma was only a ceremonial Chairman of the process and it does not behove on him to declare the results.
“Dr. Ugboaja declared the results as required by law and we are afraid that if any other candidate not declared by the Officer required by law is presented to INEC, the All Progressives Congress may not have a candidate for the Edo 2024 Governorship Elections.

“This is because the process of the election of candidates are very technical and specific. Any Slip that is generated by political expediency shall cost the APC dearly.

“This is the experience gleaned from judicial precedence on the score.
“There is a Plethora of authorities , which are extant on this issue.”

The stakeholders insisted that “the only Result that was collated in the duly authorized APC Result Sheet is that which declared Senator Sunday Okpeholo, as the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Edo 2024 Gubernatorial Elections.
“The Sheet used to do whatever was done concerning Dennis Idahosa was done on a plain sheet of paper.”

They cautioned that the purported exercise that purportedly produced Hon Dennis Idahosa cannot stand the rigours of the Court process, pointing out that the votes cast by the purported voters were more than the number of accredited voters at the primaries.

We wish to state with untainted equanimity , that any other candidate being taunted about as a purported Candidate of the APC for the Edo 2024 Governorship Elections , aside the duly returned Candidate -Senator Monday Okpeholo , presupposes that APC does not have a Candidate in Edo State .It means that APC will be given the Rivers and Zamfara States Treatments , which unfortunately are tied to the antics of the same man that is behind this charade , being attempted in Edo State.It was Mark Twain the American Writer that said “History does not repeat itself , at best it rhymes “.

The stakeholders declared: “We humbly and passionately call on the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, H.E. Abdulahi Ganduje, to do the right thing and endorse the legally returned candidate as provided by the APC Constitution.

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“We do not want the Benani scenario as it was in Adamawa State, where the election was voided because the Returning Officer’s duties was hijacked by the Resident Electoral Officer, who is currently being prosecuted.”

The stakeholders further stated: “Mr. President has been supportive of the APC in Edo State and if, indeed, Mr. President wants APC in Edo to win Edo State in the Governorship Elections in September, the President must push for justice in this matter.

“The major political stakeholders in Edo State are united behind Senator Monday Okpebholo.
“You do not go to war with out your generals and your infantry, you will be doomed to fail.”