APC Yields to Pressure, Removes Uzodimma as Chairman of Edo Governorship Primary Election

On Wednesday, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yielded to pressure by dropping Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as the chairman of the seven-member electoral committee for the rescheduled Edo State gubernatorial primary election.

The party has appointed Bassey Etu, Governor of Cross Rivers state and erstwhile deputy chairman of the committee, as chairman.

This is even as Alhaji Shettima Shehu is the new addition in place of the delisted Uzodimma, while Alhaji Rabiu Suleiman remained the secretary.

The development was contained in a statement in Abuja Wednesday, by Alhaji Suleiman Mohammed Argungu and titled “Revised 2024 Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election and Primary Election Appeal Committee.”

The statement also showed that Dr. Stanley Ugboaja still remained as a member of the Secretariat (Primary Election/Primary Election Committee Committee) while Dr. Wamba Ahmed Suleiman will chair the Election Appeal Committee which has Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed as secretary.

It would be recalled that the primary election which was conducted on 17 February, was marred by violence, intimidation and thuggery and produced three winners, namely, Senator Monday Okpebholo, House of Representatives member, Dennis Idahosa and Mr. Sunday Anamero Dekeri.

While the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the primary, Uzodimma had announced Idahosa as winner, the chief returning officer, Ugboaja, declared Okpebholo as the winner.

In Auchi, Ojo Babatunde, who claimed to be representing the returning officers in all the local governments declared Dekeri as the winner of the election.

Following the confusion that ensued, both Dekeri and Okpebholo had written to the appeal committee of the party to demand their certificates of return.

Another aspirant, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, insisted on Tuesday that no election held in the state contrary to results that were announced.