By joshua 
Edo APC Primaries One Of The Freest And Fairest , Says
Muhammed Ajana
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin city
Edo State All Progressives Congress’ (APC) last Saturday’s House of Representatives primary election has been adjudged one of the freest and fairest.
The chairman of the Primaries Committee for the state, Hon Muhammed Ajana while announcing the winners in the nine federal constituencies and issuing them their certificates of return said there was no recorded negative incidence in any of the places.
He said members of his committee did not sit in the state capital but sent its members to the fields for the elections.
Ajana announced the results as Dr. Paddy Iyamu for Oredo Federal Constituency, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion for Ovia Federal Constituency, Hon. Felix Osazee Igbinovia, Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency, Hon. Billy Osawaru for Uhunmwonde/Orhionmwon Federal Constituency, Hon. Odianosen Okojie for Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency, Dr. Lucky Eseigbe for Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency, Barr. Oladele Bankole-Balogun for Akoko-Edo for Federal Constituency, Hon. Anamero Sunday Dekeri for Etsako Federal Constituency and Hon. Andrew Ijegbai for Owan Federal Constituency.
Ajana said “We have seen Edo as a pace setter for subsequent elections. We see that more or less the election was more or less like a carnival. We didn’t just sit in the state capital of Benin. Members of my electoral committee were sent out to various federal constituencies to conduct the primaries for the House of Representatives.
“In Edo it wasn’t a state of where people sit down behind the corridors of power to write names, this election was taken to the grassroots and the grassroots have elected their leaders to represent them in the various federal constituencies which is nine.”
On his part, the state chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe said the outcome of the primary confirmed the promise he made that the process would be peaceful.
In some areas it was keenly contested and thank God that candidates have emerged in the nine federal constituencies in Edo state.
This is as former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and the member representing Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben constituency, Hon Marcus Onobum cried foul alleging irregularities that led his opponent being declared the winner instead of him.
Onobun protest
The member representing Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Constituency and former Speaker, Marcus Onobun brought his petition to the State secretariat of the party but said he could not find any official to receive it.
He said what happened in his area was a sham as he won the election and not Eseigbe.
“I am here at the Party State Secretariat in Benin to submit a petition to the Primary Election Committee as well as the Appeal Committee.
“As you all know, yesterday the 16th of May 2026 we had our primaries in my federal constituency and everybody came out en masse to vote for me and I began to see online that some people are brandishing results of our party alleging that somebody has won the election.”