Dennis Idahosa Emerges Winner of Edo APC Governorship Primaries

Dennis Idahosa, a member of the House of Representatives, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) candidate for governor of Edo State.

The governor’s primary election committee, led by governor Hope Uzodimma, made the announcement. The committee claims that Idahosa defeated the other candidates with a vote total of nearly 40,000.

From now on, he will represent the party in the September 2024 governorship election.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State who is the Edo State Governorship Primary Election Committee Chair declared Idahosa as the APC flagbearer on Saturday in Benin City following the party’s primary election.

According to him, Idahosa polled over 40,000 votes to defeat other contestants and will now fly the party’s flag in the September 2024 governorship poll.

‘Time for Reconciliation’
An excited Idahosa dedicated Saturday’s victory to God and party supporters.

“I want to dedicate this victory to God Almighty, the creator of Heaven and Earth. Because it’s only God who gives power and the people of Edo under the platform of APC have spoken loud and clear,” the member representing Ovia Federal Constituency said, calling for reconciliation.

“I have won the election, and the time of trouble is over. This is the time for reconciliation. For those I have contested with, we are brothers, we are one family. I’m going to start the reconciliation process immediately because I need all of them to win the general election.

“So on that note, I want to thank the people of Edo State, thank APC, thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and also thank the members of NWC. ”

Disrupted Exercise
Before the announcement, there was some drama as suspected thugs disrupted the collation exercise, forcing the election committee to change venue.

The suspected thugs had invaded the venue, and thrown away cameras belonging to journalists, leading to officials and the pressmen scampering for safety.

But Governor Uzodimma explained that there was a mixup about the collation venue. He said the candidate was announced in the right venue.

READ ALSO: [Edo Election] Uzodimma To Chair APC Primary Committee

APC Dispels Fear Of Parallel Poll
Following concerns about a parallel primary, the ruling APC told supporters that it would only recognise the results declared by the Uzodimma committee.

“We wish to state categorically that only the Governor Hope Uzodinma-Led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee is duly authorised to undertake the final collation and announcement of results of the Primary Election in the State,” the party’s spokesman Felix Morka said in a statement.

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

Earlier, some members of the APC in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State told Channels Television that the election was peaceful.

The APC had a few days back cleared twelve aspirants to contest the party’s primary election. But Osagie Ize-Iyamu who flew the APC flag in the 2020 governorship poll withdrew from the race on the eve of the exercise.

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