The crisis surrounding the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State took a dramatic twist as the party on Wednesday sacked Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State as Chairman of its seven-member committee to conclude the exercise rescheduled for February 22 2024.
According to a statement by the National Organizing Secretary of the APC, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu,
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has been chosen as the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee to replace Uzodimma.
However, Shettima Shehu was drafted to the seven-member committee. Other members are former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; APC’s flagbearer in the Plateau State 2023 governorship election, Nentanwe Yilwatde Goshwe; Umar Musa; Lawan Garba and Rabiu Suleiman (Secretary). Apart from Uzodinma, they were retained.
Also retained is the chairman of the Edo State Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee, C.C Udenwa. Muhammad Zakaria Sarina, Udogu Anthony Chijoke, Muhammad Garin Ali and Yunusa Mohammed (Secretary) were also retained.
Meanwhile, Dr. Wambai Ahmed Suleiman, Prof. Adediwura Alaba Adeyemi, Sanusi Samaila, Niyi Akinsiju, , Dr. Stanley Ugboaja and
Sani D. Galadima were named members of the APC Secretariat (Primary Election/Primary Election Committee).
The removal of Uzodinma is sequel to the controversial primary held on February 17 for which three aspirants are claiming victory. Like, other political parties
On the day of the primary election, the APC issued a statement that only the Hope Uzodinma-led Edo State Governorship Primary Election Committee wasduly authorized to undertake final collation and announcement of results of the Primary Election.
Like a prophecy foretold, the statement fueled suspicion that trouble was looming.
To douse the crisis surrounding the primaries, the National working committee of the party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, declared the exercise inconclusive and fixed Thursday February 22, 2024 for the completion of the process.
One man that cannot be forgotten in the political geometry of APC is Adams Oshiomhole. As the leader of the APC in Edo State, former Governor of the State, former National Chairman of the APC and former President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oshiomhole is believed to be a potent force in national politics.
Although he had hated godfatherism, he has become a godfather himself in APC. Is he a political hypocrite? The answer to this will unfold soon.
Two days earlier, Uzodinma had described the APC as a fantastic brand that would produce a candidate that would be acceptable to the electorate in Edo State.
The Uzodinma-led committee had cleared twelve aspirants for the primary election political contest for the Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21.
The 12 successful aspirants cleared for the primaries are a former Director of Finance and Administration at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), General Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd); former Chairman of APC in Edo State, Col. David Imuse (Rtd); a businessman, Gideon Ikhine; ex-Minister of State, National Economic Planning, Prince Clem Agba; Senator representing Edo Central, Monday Okpebholo; and lawmaker representing Etsako federal constituency, Anamero Dekeri
Others are a former Governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor; APC South-South ex-Zonal Organising Secretary, Blessing Agbohmere; a member of the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa; immediate past Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ernest Afolabi and a politician, Emmanuel Momoh.
A former governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu resigned 24 hours to the primaries while a former Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen, stepped down on the day of the primary.
As the APC aspirants test their strengths severally, their next destinations is the Court. But the potent fear among observers is that except internal democracy reigns supreme, the party may be on its journey to political Golgotha.
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