From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The outcome of last Saturday governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, which produced the candidates, has caused a division in the ranks of members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party, as the State Vice of the party, Edo South, Benson Edosomwan, in a statement yesterday, upheld the election of Hon. Dennis Idahosa as the party’s candidate for the September 21st gubernatorial election in the state.
Recall that the Acting State Chairman of the party, Jarret Tenebe, had earlier upheld the nomination of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the party’s candidate, saying that apart from Okpebholo and Hon. Sunday Anamero Dekeri who paid party dues, the 10 other aspirants cleared to contest for the primaries by the National Leadership of the party were not qualified to contest.
But Edosomwan in the statement congratulated Hon. Dennis Idahosa “on his successful election during the primaries”, pledging the State Executive Committee (SEC’s) readiness “to work with our candidate as a united family for the victory of our party and his success in the upcoming governorship election.
“On behalf of members of the State Executive Committee of the APC in Edo State, we appeal to all members of our party across the 192 wards of our state to stay calm as the National Working Committee is working on the developments arising from the party’s primaries held last Saturday, 17th February 2024.
“Notwithstanding, we want to congratulate the gubernatorial candidate of our party, Rt Hon Dennis Idahosa, on his successful election during the primaries.
“As members of the State Executive Committee we pledge our unwavering loyalty to the National Leadership of the party.
“We also pledge to work with our candidate as a united family for the victory of our party and his success in the upcoming governorship elections.
“We are confident that Edo state under the leadership of Rt Hon Dennis Idahosa, our party will thrive and uphold the values that define the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State is committed to promoting democratic principles, transparency, and fairness in all its activities. The party aims to serve Edo people and advance the cause of good governance in our dear State”, the statement read.
Meanwhile, the SWC of the party at the end of its meeting in Benin yesterday, passed “a vote of implicit confidence on the Acting State Chairman, Comrade Jarret Tenebe, the State secretary, Engr. Lawrence Okah and the State Publicity Secretary, Prince Peter Uwadiae Igbinigie, due to the excellent ways they have piloted the affairs of the party particularly at this auspicious time of our political evolution”.
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A statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Peter Igbinigie, said the SWC has enjoined the party officials “not to relent in their efforts in ensuring that justice, equity and fair play which is the hallmark of our great party is robustly upheld at all times regardless of any undue pressure from any quarter.
“The SWC of our party uses this medium to thank the teeming members of our party for their calmness in spite of the unprovoked attacks on them. At the end of the day, the peace that we hitherto enjoy in our party shall be restored” the statement said.
At the meeting, the SWC vetoed the suspension of the Vice chairman of Edo Central, Chief Francis Inegbineki and restored him to his position, following failure by his Local Government Exco of the party to prove allegations against him.