By Lucky Isibor
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC has insisted that Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Monday Okpebholo won last Saturday primary of the party and urged the general public to disregard any contrary announcement.
In a press statement signed by the state publicity secretary of the party, Peter Enosoregbe Uwadiae Igbinigie Esq and made available to newsmen in Benin City Sunday, 18 February and titled, “Clarifying the Edo State APC Gubernatorial Primary Election 2024”; states the party is making the clarification to clear any doubt in the minds of the general public.
According to the statement, “The attention of the state working committee of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has been drawn to some publications wherein the authors aimed at distorting the facts surrounding the conduct and outcome of today’s gubernatorial primary elections that held in the 192 wards of the 18 local government areas in Edo state.
“In order to protect the good people of our state as well as the unsuspecting public from these false information, it has become expedient to clarify every doubt by succinctly elucidating the facts.
“In the early hours of this afternoon, the collation and announcement of results began. After the declaration of the results in eight (8) local government areas, with Sen. Monday Okpevbolo in clear lead, irate thugs commissioned by an aspirant stormed the venue of the state collation and disrupted the process by beating up collation officials/representatives of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), who were simply carrying out their legitimate duties. In the process, they dispossessed them of their personal valuables including phones, laptops, cash, and other belongings. But for the timely intervention of courageous party men these innocent officials would have been martyred unjustly. Currently, many are in an undisclosed hospital tending to serious physical injuries.
“Nonetheless, after normalcy was restored at the recognized collation centered, with the local government area returning officers and representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the results were declared by the Chief Returning Officer whose responsibility it is to carry out this function as follows:
“Sen. Monday Okpevbolo: 12,145 votes, Hon. Dennis Idahosa: 5,536 votes Mr. Afolabi Umakhihe: 2,090 votes
Gen. Charles Arhiavbere: 919 votes; Dr. Blessing Agbomere: 834 votes, Sen. Oserieme Osunbor: 688 votes, Col. David Imuse: 507 votes
“Therefore, it is the desire of the state working committee to reiterate that Sen. Monday Okpevbolo is the duly elected gubernatorial candidate of our great party for the September 2024 governorship election” the statement concluded.