APC Declares Edo Governorship Primary Inconclusive

**Press Release**

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the inconclusiveness of the governorship primary election held in Edo State last Saturday. This decision comes after a meeting between the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and the leadership of the party.

The primary, which took place on February 17, produced three winners, leading to confusion. Dennis Idahosa was announced as the winner by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Governor Hope Uzodimma, while returning officer Stanley Ugboaja declared Monday Okpebholo as the winner. Additionally, Ojo Babatunde, representing the returning officers in all local governments, declared Anamero Dekeri as the winner.

In light of this confusion, both Dekeri and Okpebholo have written to the party’s appeal committee demanding their certificates of return. Another aspirant, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, has insisted that no election took place in the state, contrary to the announced results.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, stated that the election has not been completed and that the process will continue on Thursday, February 22.

Morka said, “I am here to give you the outcome of the emergency meeting of the National Working Committee of our party held today regarding the Edo State governorship primary election. At its emergency meeting held today, Tuesday, February 20, 2024, to consider the report on the Edo governorship primary election, the National Working Committee of our party deliberated and resolved that the governorship primary election has not been completed and has now fixed Thursday, February 22, for the completion of the APC Edo State primary election process.”

Meanwhile, the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, had earlier congratulated Idahosa on his emergence as the party’s candidate. The reason behind the NWC’s decision was not clear at the time of this press release.