• Oshiomhole proves he’s in control

From Tony Osauzo and Ndubuisi Orji, Benin

IT was victory foretold. But no one knew it would be by such a great margin.

At the end of the collation of the votes, it was clear who calls the shots in Edo State chapter of the APC.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s preferred aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Godwin Obaseki emerged winner of the primaries for the September 10, governorship poll. He polled a total of 1608 votes to defeat his closest rival and state deputy governor, Pius Odubu and 10 others.

The deputy governor, who came a distant second scored 471 votes. Other aspirants and the scores are: Abuja based educationist, Ken Imasaugbon, 247 votes; former Minister of Works, Chris Ogiemwonyi, 137 votes; former Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), 2012 governorship candidate, Charles Airhiabvere,11 votes and former minority whip, House of Representatives, Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula, 10 votes. Others are: former governor Osareheimen Osunbor, nine votes; former President, Trade Union Congress(TUC), eight votes; Austin Emuan, seven votes; Blessing Agbomhere, five votes and the only female, Tina Agbara, three votes.

For those who followed the events leading to the primaries, the road to the exercise was characterised by intrigues, harassment and allegations and counter allegations of plots to manipulate the process.

As early as Monday last Week, aspirants had started camping delegates perceived to be loyal to them in Hotels, so that other contestants did not have access to them. But the camping notwithstanding, many of the delegates also left their camps to others to see what they can make from other the political game.

On the night before the primaries, many of the aspirants were engaged in a desperate last minute bid to win over the delegates. Unconfirmed sources said it was a rain of naira for the delegates as aspirants were falling over themselves to endorse them. It was gathered that the aspirants allegedly induced aspirants with sums of money ranging from N100,000 to N450,000 in what was regarded by many as competition among the aspirants as to who will be the highest bidder.

In the run up to the election, there were several allegations that the Obaseki camp were moping the Permanent-Voters Card(PVC) of delegates.

However, a member of the House of Representatives, Philip Shaibu who was accused of being the brain behind the PVC mop-up told journalists that the allegation was baseless as PVCs are not used to contest primaries.

At the main bowl of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium,venue of the Primaries, tension built to boiling point. At a point, some of the aspirants engaged Governor Oshiomhole in hot exchanges over alleged interference in the nomination process.

The exchange was intermittent between one of the aspirant, Imasuagbon and the governor.

Imasuagbon was later joined by the deputy governor, Pius Odubu and former Minister of Works, Chris Ogiemwonyi, who were displeased with the governor’s frequent movement round the delegates while voting was on. However, it took a great effort of both security agents and some party leaders to calm Imasuagbon down. At a stage, the atmosphere in the stadium became charged, forcing the chairman of the Election Committee, Governor Aminu Masari of Kastina State to make public announcement, urging all delegates

who have voted to leave the stadium.

He was supported by the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, who also asked delegates who have voted to leave the venue, “or we will leave with you”.

Imasuangbon had told Daily Sun in an earlier interview that Oshiomhole was unduly interfering with the nomination process. He vowed to defeat Obaseki, once the process was free and fair. He boasted that he was the candidate to beat.

Prior to the commencement of voting proper, delegates for today’s Edo State gubernatorial primaries of the APC were screened at three different centres in Benin City.

When voting ended at 10.30 pm, the anxious moments started. As the collation of the votes started, tension mounted when the night advanced and it became obvious that the pendulum was swinging towards Obaseki’s direction. The aspirants started leaving one after the other. When collation and counting of votes ended few minutes past 4 am on Sunday morning, most if the aspirants had left.

However, Osunbor and Airhiavbere waited all through.

The primaries has been lost and won, but for the party, many believe that it is not yet Uhuru.

Analysts insist that the party must take steps to calm frayed nerves if it hopes to make progress in the main election.