Senator Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross River State and chairman of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship direct primary election, has announced the decision to hold a fresh primary across the 192 wards spanning the 18 local government areas of the state.
Otu made this announcement while addressing reporters at the Lushville Hotel and Suites on Gapiona Avenue, Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin on Thursday. He stated that the previous primary election held on Saturday has been cancelled.
The ruling APC removed Governor Hope Uzodimma as Chairman of the Elections Committee following the controversy surrounding the governorship primary in Edo State. Otu was named as his successor. The change was communicated in a statement issued by the APC National Organizing Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, designating the responsibility of conducting the re-run poll to Governor Otu, slated for Thursday, February 22.
The newly constituted Primary Election Committee includes former Osun State deputy governor, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; APC’s flagbearer in the Plateau State 2023 governorship election, Nentanwe Goshwe; Umar Musa; Lawan Garba; and Rabiu Suleiman who will serve as the Secretary.
This alteration was made shortly after four prominent aspirants called for Uzodimma’s replacement. Aspirants such as Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and General Charles Airhiavbere (retd.) expressed their loss of confidence in his ability to conduct a free and fair election, citing the controversies surrounding the previous poll.
Governor Uzodimma, who chaired the Edo Primary Election Committee on February 17, declared a member of the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa, as the winner of the contest with 40,483 votes. However, due to the controversies, the APC National Working Committee declared the poll inconclusive after an emergency meeting convened to address the lingering crisis arising from the primary conducted by Senator Hope Uzodimma-led committee, according to APC spokesman, Felix Morka.
