Edo Guber: APC, PDP and LP’s Primary Elections of Chaos By Kabir Akintayo
POLITICS DIGEST- The Edo state governorship election is scheduled to take place on the 21st of September, 2024. Announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 16 political parties would be fielding candidates for the election.
Among these are the major three leading political parties in the state namely; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party (LP).
Other parties to participate in the election includes; Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Action Peoples Party (APP), Boot Party (BP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
However, the primaries organized by the APC, PDP and LP, to pick their flagbearers were rancourous, unlike that of the less popular parties.
All Progressive Congress (APC)
The APC, in the first primaries conducted by the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma who chaired the election committee, produced Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the alleged anointed candidate of the former governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole. He polled 40, 453 votes. The election also saw Senator Monday Okpebholo announced winner of the election by the state returning officer, Stanley Ugboajah.
However, the party following the emergence of multiple candidates, conducted a rerun on the 22nd of February, 2024. The election was headed by Cross Rivers state governor, Bassey Otu, who was the Vice – chairman to Uzodinma but later replaced the Progressive Forum Chairman, who according to APC, was ‘unavoidable unavailable’ due to other vital national assignment.
Otu was able to conduct a fresh election that produced Senator Monday Okpebholo who polled 12,433 votes to defeat other aspirants, including Idahosa in a direct primary.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
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On the other hand, the ruling party in the state PDP, on Thursday 22nd February, 2024 produces two candidates in a parallel primary for the upcoming Edo state governorship election. The two candidates are Philip Shaibu, the current deputy governor and Asue Igbodalo, a businessman.
Igbodalo had emerged candidate for PDP, in a keenly contested primary at the lawn tennis court of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, the state capital, having polled 577 votes. Chairman of the Electoral Committee and Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State declared him as the winner of the exercise. While Shaibu emerged as the winner of the parallel primary in another different venue where he scored over 300 votes.
Some party delegates who arrived at the venue of the primary were reportedly denied access. The delegates subsequently moved to Shaibu’s residence where a parallel election was held.
Earlier before the PDP, primary election, Edo state governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Shaibu had been on a loggerhead. Shaibu had gone against his boss’ wish to declare his intention of running for the position of governorship in the state.
Labour Party (LP)
Another party that crossed many hurdles during its governorship primaries is Labour Party (LP). As its stand, INEC, has received two letters, to recognize different candidates to fly the party ticket for the 21st September governorship election.
Olumide Akpata, the former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President had emerged winner of LP’s primary election held on 22nd February, 2024.
He scored 316 votes to win the exercise held in Benin City, the Edo State capital. He was declared winner by the Deputy governor of Abia state, Ikechukwu Emeta
However, the Apapa-led faction of the party in a letter dated February 22, 2024 and addressed to the National Chairman of INEC, in Abuja submitted the names of the party’s candidate and deputy governorship candidate respectively.
Alhaji Lamidi Apapa and Alhaji Saleh Lawan as the acting National Secretary, gave the name of the governorship candidate as Anderson Asemota, while Monday Mawah was listed as Asemota’s running mate, claiming that the governorship candidate and his running mate emerged at a primary conducted on February 22, 2024, in Benin City.
