Supporters of Hon Dennis Idahosa Insist on Authenticity of Initial Primary Results
In a demonstration against the results of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Edo State, party members rallied yesterday to contest the emergence of Sen Monday Okpebholo as the standard bearer. The protesters, aligned with the interests of Hon Dennis Idahosa, claimed that the electoral committee allocated votes to Okpebholo, challenging the authenticity of the primary outcome.
Despite a conclusive primary election that declared Okpebholo as the APC candidate for the September elections, the protesters, led by Hon Harrison Okpamen, maintained that the initial exercise that produced Idahosa as the candidate remains valid. Okpamen alleged that some party members colluded with the electoral committee, headed by Cross Rivers State Governor Sen. Bassey Etu, to manipulate the votes in favor of Okpebholo.
Addressing the APC national chairman, Okpamen asserted, “They declared one Senator Monday Okpebholo as the elected candidate of the party for the said governorship elections,” highlighting discrepancies in the process.
According to Okpamen, the rescheduled exercise lacked returning officers in the wards as directed by Governor Otu, leading party members to queue behind their preferred aspirants’ posters. Despite the absence of election officials, he claimed that it was evident that Hon. Dennis Idahosa was the preferred candidate among a majority of party members.
Okpamen detailed the irregularities, stating that Governor Otu, who went out of circulation, later ordered armed soldiers to disperse party members, allowing for the announcement of figures allegedly conjured to match those allocated to Okpebholo in the primary election of February 17, 2024.
He emphasized that the primary elections were not conducted by open secret ballot, as required by relevant provisions of the APC constitution, and declared the outcome unlawful, urging the party to set aside the injustice and declare Hon. Dennis Idahosa as the rightful winner.
The protesters called for a thorough review of the process, citing violations of the party’s constitution and asserting that the alleged injustices perpetrated by the Governor Otu committee should be rectified by the APC.
