C0NFUS!0N: Two Winners Emerge From Edo APC Parallel Primaries

C0NFUS!0N: Two Winners Emerge From Edo APC Parallel Primaries

A few hours after Governor Hope Uzodinma, the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress ( APC )seven-man electoral committee for the Edo governorship election declared Hon. Dennis Idahosa as the winner of the exercise, the returning officer of the committee, Dr Stanley Ugboajah, announced Sen. Monday Okpenholo as the winner of the election.

He stated this at a press conference held at the residence of one of the aspirants, who had earlier announced his withdrawal from the contest.

Ugboajah said Sen. Monday Okpepholo polled 12,145 votes to defeat the other contestants.

He said Idahosa scored 5,536 votes to emerge second.

His words, “I hereby certify that Monday Okpepholo, having scored the highest votes, is declared winner and duly returned as APC candidate for the election.”

Uzodimma had while announcing the earlier results, said the election was peaceful across the 18 local governments and 192  wards and that Idahosa polled 40,453 votes to emerge winner.

Meanwhile, a statement from the National Secretariat disclaimed what it called the unauthorized announcement of the primary election results.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka Esq said, “The attention of the National Working Committee of our great party has been drawn to a live broadcast on major national television stations and online news outlets of the results of the ongoing Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election by some unauthorized persons.

“We wish to state categorically that only the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee is duly authorized to undertake the final collation and announcement of the results of the primary election in the state.

“We urge all party members, officials in the state, and the general public to disregard the said announcement of results by these unauthorized persons.”