Edo APC: Why NWC Ordered Fresh Primary
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
Facts have emerged on the reason behind the rescheduling of All Progressives Congress, APC governorship primary, held last Saturday.
Two reasons were pushed for the fresh primary which has now been fixed to hold Tomorrow February 22, 2024.
Top of the reason is the letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which informed the APC’s National Working Committee that, in their records, the party had not conducted its primary election.
INEC hinged its conclusion on the venue that was communicated to Commission which was Lushvile hotel. INEC pointed out that both the ‘private residence’ of one of the aspirants where the State Returning Officer, Mr. Stanley Ugboaja had declared Senator Monday Okpebholo as winner, and Protea Hotel where Governor Hope Uzodinma declared Hon. Dennis Idahosa winner, were both not the venue recognized by the Commission.
The second reason is the introduction of a ‘State Returning Officer’ which a section of national leadership of the party, including their leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu frowned at.
More worrisome is the discovery that Stanley Ugboaja is a staff in the office of Mr. Nze Chidi Duru, Deputy National Organising Secretary of APC.
President Tinubu was quoted to be “very embarrassed by the open interest that was displayed by a section of the NWC, which was capable of dividing the Edo APC.
Tinubu had no choice but to direct the party to conduct a fresh primary according to ‘an existing party guidelines’. The decision it was learnt, is to avoid litigations.