From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, yesterday, emerged the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party repeat primaries.
The Chairman of the Governorship Primaries Election Committee and Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Bassey Otu, who announced the result of the election, said Okpebholo polled 12,433 votes to defeat his closest rival, Hon. Dennis Idahosa who scored 6, 541 votes.
Other aspirants their scores are Blessing Agbomhere, 731 votes; Charles Airhiavbere, 1,181; Ize-Iyamu, 378; Clem Agba, 2, 732; Lucky Imansuen, 493; David Imuse, 423; Oserhiemen Osunbor, 634; Gideon Ikhine, 728; Anamero Dekeri, 2, 566 and Ernest Umakhine, 2, 117 votes.
Otu announced that 12 aspirants contested for the party’s governorship ticket and “Sen. Monday Okpebholo having satisfied all the requirements and having scored the highest numbers of votes is hereby declared the winner”. .
The governor while thanking officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, said in every contest there must be winner and appealed to other aspirants to rally round Okpebholo, just as he called on all members of the party to remain united in order to ensure victory for the party in the September 21st governorship election.
Shortly after the Committee declared Okpebholo winner, one of the aspirants, Anamero Dekeri, rejected the results and vowed to challenge it at the appeal panel, alleging that the conduct of the primaries lacked transparency and was skewed in favour of Okpebholo.
But speaking on behalf of Sen. Monday Okpebholo, Hon. Emmanuel Momoh, expressed gratitude to the members of the committee for a thorough job adding that the victory of Okpebholo mark the end of the ruling PDP in Edo State.
Reacting to his victory, elated Okpebholo thanked members of the party for the overwhelming support and confidence reposed on him to fly the party’s flag, promising that if elected as governor Edo State will witness massive infrastructural development in all sectors.
He said his victory serves as a quit notice to the PDP, the present tenant of Osadebey Avenue, the seat of power in Benin, adding that his emergence was a victory for all, “saying no victor, no vanguish”.
Recall that the trio of Senator Monday Okpebholo, Hon Dennis Idahosa and Hon. Anamero Dekeri, had last Thursday after the party primaries, laid claims to the party’s governorship ticket, prompting the APC to order a repeat of the governorship primary election.