An aspiring candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Edo gubernatorial race, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor, has opted out of the primary election rescheduled for today.
Osunbor conveyed this decision in a letter dated February 21, 2024.
It’s worth noting that last Tuesday, the former Edo governor lodged a formal complaint with the APC Appeals committee, seeking a fair and unbiased rescheduling of the primary.
However, in the letter made public on Wednesday, Osunbor highlighted the irregularities observed in the primary held the previous Saturday, during which Dennis Idahosa emerged victorious.
In his correspondence, Osunbor remarked, “The primary purportedly conducted on Saturday, February 17, 2024, was, in my estimation, marred by illegality, demonstrating a shameful and blatant disregard for the procedural norms outlined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, the APC Constitution, and the Guidelines for the Conduct of Governorship Primaries.”
“The insinuation or suggestion, as implied in the statement, that the National Working Committee seeks to conclude a fundamentally flawed process contradicts my principles of integrity, transparency, and the values I uphold dearly.”
“Therefore, I hereby declare my refusal to partake in a process that appears to validate the illegitimate actions of last Saturday. It endeavors to construct something on a foundation of nothingness.”
Osunbor further expressed, “I have been made aware of a Press Statement released this morning by Felix Morka, Esq., the APC Publicity Secretary, indicating that the National Working Committee of the party has resolved ‘that the Edo State Governorship Primary Election has not been concluded, and has now slated Thursday, February 22, 2024 (tomorrow) for the completion of the Primary Election Process.'”
“Thus, I respectfully request the removal of my name from the list of aspirants with immediate effect. Rest assured of my continued allegiance to the APC,” he concluded.
