National Telescope national telescope newspaper
There was confusion on Saturday following the emergence of another candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the All Progressives Congress governorship primary election in Edo.
The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who doubles as the chairman of the APC primary election committee, had earlier in the day declared a House of Representatives member, Dennis Idahosa, winner and the party flagbearer in the election held at the Protea Hotel.
However, the Returning Officer, Stanley Ugboaja, declared Okpebholo the winner with 12,145 votes at Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s residence.
According to the returning officer, he was the right person to announce the result while declaring Okpebholo the winner.
He said, “I am the right person to declare the results of this primary election but unfortunately, I was not allowed to finish the announcement. We will continue the announcement here (Ize-Iyamu residence).
“Having scored the highest number of votes, I hereby declare Senator Okpebholo the winner of the election.”
Meanwhile, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Uwadiae, has described the announcement by Uzodimma as illegal.
He also urged the party’s members and leadership to disregard the governor’a action.
