From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
A group, Concerned All Progressives Congress Stakeholders has appealed to president Bola Tinubu to wade into the problem currently rocking the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following its gubernatorial primaries that threw up three winners, namely, Dennis Idahosa, Monday Okpebholo and Dekeri Anamero in the state.
Counsel to the Concerned All Progressives Congress Stakeholders, Douglas Ogbankwa made the appeal while briefing journalists in Benin.
Giving the genesis of the crisis, Ogbankwa said that the gubernatorial primaries exercise was going on smoothly and Senator Monday Okpebholo was leading in the results that were being announced by those saddled with the responsibility to do justice to it before it was truncated by thugs.
He said that interestingly, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) officials supervised the outcome of the exercise adding that, that authenticated process.
“That the INEC approved venue for the 17th February, 2024 APC Primaries in Edo State is Lushville Hotel, Gapiona Avenue , GRA., Benin City and no other place.
“This venue is known to all participants in the Primaries and Protea Hotel, Benin City, is not a venue on record known to INEC.
“Any activity that purportedly took place at Protea Hotel, Benin City on the issue of the announcement of the APC Primaries in Edo State is nullity .
“That the only recognized and recognizable Chief Returning Officer for the Edo 2024 Governorship Primaries appointed by the APC National Working Committee is Stanley Uzomaka Ugboaja Phd .Gov. Hope Uzodinma was only a ceremonial Chairman of the process and it does not behove on him to declare the results .Dr. Ugboaja declared the results as required by law and we are afraid that if any other candidate not declared by the Officer required by law is presented to INEC, the All Progressives Congress may not have a Candidate for the Edo 2024 Governorship Elections.This is because the process of the election of candidates are very technical and specific .
“Any slip that is generated by Political expediency shall cost the APC dearly.This is the experience gleaned from judicial precedence on the score.There is a Plethora of authorities , which are extant on this issue.
“That the only result that was collated in the duly authorized APC Result Sheet is that which declared Senator Sunday Okpebholo , as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Edo 2024 Gubernatorial Elections .
“The Sheet used to do whatever was done concerning Dennis Idahosa was done on a plain sheet of paper.
That the purported exercise that purportedly produced Hon Dennis idahosa, can not stand the rigours of the court process, as the votes cast by the purported voters were more than the number of accredited voters at the primaries.
“That the only exercise observed by the Independent National Elections (INEC), as provided for by Electoral Act, 2020 , was the exercise that produced Senator Monday Okpebholo as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and INEC inserted its imprimatur in the Results sheets which was issued in the official APC Result Sheets, as opposed to the one handed over to Hope Uzodinma for announcement by Hon Dennis Idahosa’s Chief campaign Manager .
“There was no collation and transmission process in the purported Dennis Idahosa Announcement , as the purported announcement was an arrangement of friends, not following the process provided for by the Electoral Act.
“That a Primary Election is a Process regulated by the Electoral Act, 2020 and not the whims and caprices of some power merchants and the only Primaries that followed the process provided for by the Electoral Act, 2020 and the All Progressives Congress Constitution is the one that produced Senator Monday Okpebholo , who is the APC Governorship Candidate for Edo State.
“That Governor Hope Uzodinma was not around all through the processes of the Organisation of the Primaries and he only showed up to announce false results late, when he is not the Chief returning Officer, as provided for by the APC Constitution.
“The action Gov Hope Uzodinma took in announcing a false result was ultra vires his powers, as announcement of results , is not within his job description , as provided for by the APC Constitution”, Ogbankwa said.
He therefore called on President Bola Tinubu to step in and save the day to avoid Banani Scenario as it was in Adamawa State.
“We humbly and passionately call on the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency , President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, H.E. Abdulahi Ganduje to do the right thing and endorse the legally retuned Candidate as provided by the APC Constitution.
“We do not want the Banani scenario as it was in Adamawa State, where the election was voided because the Returning Officer’s duties was hijacked by the Resident Electoral Officer , who is currently being Prosecuted.
“The President of Nigeria -His Excellency , President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an apostle of due process and rule of law .We use this medium to call His Excellency’s attention to the issues above, being very positive that Mr. President will uphold the Rule of law in this matter .Mr. President has been supportive of the APC in Edo State and if indeed Mr. President wants APC in Edo to win Edo State in the Governorship Elections in September, the President must push for justice in this matter.
“The major political stakeholders in Edo State are united behind Senator Monday Okpebholo .You do not go to war with out your generals and your infantry, you will be doomed to fail”, Ogbankwa added.