Edo Guber Poll: APC May Not Field Candidate In Edo Guber – Concerned Stakeholders
By Simeon OSAJIE
Some members of the Concerned All Progressives Congress, (APC) Stakeholders in Edo State today Tuesday 20th February have call on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje that the party risk losing the forthcoming September governorship election if the duly elected and announced winner of the last Saturday primaries, Senator Monday Okpebholo is robbed of his victory.
The group also described as absurdity and total brigandage the way and manner the Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state against all known guidelines and processes in conducting party primaries went ahead to announce Hon Dennis Idahosa as the winner of last Saturday’s APC governorship primaries.
Addressing Journalists, Counsel to Concerned APC stakeholders, Barrister Douglas Ogbankwa, Esq. on behalf of the group also condemned the violent brutalization of members of the Nigerian Union Journalists, (NUJ) who were there to carry out their constitutional responsibility as the watchdog of the society.
The group noted, “The only recognized and recognizable Chief Returning Officer for the Edo 2024 Governorship Primaries appointed by the APC National Working Committee is Stanley Uzomaka Ugboaja. Gov. Hope Uzodinma was only a ceremonial Chairman of the process.
“It does not behoove on him to declare the results, Dr. Ugboaja declared the results as required by law and we are afraid that if any other candidate not declared by the Officer required by law is presented to INEC, the All Progressives Congress may not have a candidate for the Edo 2024 Governorship Elections.
“This is because the process of the election of candidates is very technical and specific. Any slip that is generated by Political expediency shall cost the APC dearly. This is the experience gleaned from judicial precedence on the score. There is a Plethora of authorities, which are extant on this issue.
“We wish to state with untainted equanimity, that any other candidate being taunted about as a purported Candidate of the APC for the Edo 2024 Governorship Elections, aside the duly returned Candidate Senator Monday Okpeholo, presupposes that APC does not have a Candidate in Edo State
“It means that APC will be given the Rivers State and Zamfara States Treatments, which unfortunately are tied to the antics of the same man that is behind this charade, being attempted in Edo State. It was Mark Twain the American Writer that said “History does not repeat itself, at best it rhymes “.
“We humbly and passionately call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, H. E. Abdulahi Ganduje to do the right thing and endorse the legally returned Candidate as provided by the APC Constitution.
“We do not want the Banani Scenario as it was in Adamawa State, where the election was voided because the Returning Officer’s duties was hijacked by the Resident Electoral Officer ,who is currently being Prosecuted.”
