*Party insists on 6 aspirants
*Nomination still open, some officials counter
Plans by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State to conduct a primary election to select it’s flagbearer for the September 21 governorship election in the state may have run into a storm following disagreement on the number of aspirants cleared for the exercise.
Indications that all may not be well on the party emerged shortly after 29 aspirants appeared before a Screening Committee led by Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. While some stakeholders claimed that the committee cleared four out of the 29 aspirants to buy nomination forms, others maintained that six of the aspirants were cleared to contest.
Responding to media reports that only four aspirants remained in the race, the party’s acting chairman in the state, Hon. Jarret Tenebe, on Tuesday, insisted that six of the aspirants were indeed cleared by the Ihonvbere committee.
The Edo state APC publicity secretary, Peter Uwadiae, said the Ihonvbere committee was mere advisory and not a screening committee.
Speaking on behalf of the APC, the publicity secretary said the committee was designed to meet with aspirants and see how the numbers can be pruned down so that the primary that would hold on February 17, 2024, would be free of rancour.
He said, “There is no truth in the news making the round that governorship aspirants have been screened and about 25 have been disqualified.
Based on the advice of the National Working Committee of the party, we set up a committee led by Julius Ihonvbere to interface with the aspirants on the need to reduce the number of aspirants to a manageable one. It is after the close of sale of forms that the NWC will set up a screening committee.
“The Committee also advised the Edo APC to be in a talking relationship with the aspirants so that those who know they cannot go all the way can exit the race.
“So no aspirants has been screened and disqualified,” he declared.
Uwadiae also said that the sale of the expression form, which cost N10 million and the nomination form, which goes N40 million were on sale for anyone who wants to vie for the governorship position on the platform of the party, noting that more aspirants are expected to join the race
The party publicity scribe said APC was going to the poll to win, urging members and supporters not to get agitated as the party believes in unity, fair play and democracy.
He also urged party faithful not to allow the situation to cause rancour and disaffection among them which will rub off on the party negatively at the polls.
The APC national leadership had last week declared that it would be practically impossible to conduct direct primaries for 29 aspirants, hence would dialogue with some of them with a view to making them step down.
In settling for the six aspirants, said the chairman, the party took note of the aspirants’ reach, the delicate political balance in the state, and where the candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate would come from.
A breakdown of the six aspirants indicated that two aspirants were selected from each of the three senatorial zones.
A retired permanent secretary, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, who is from Owan East and Prince Clem Agba, the immediate past
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, who is from Etsako East, are the two candidates from Edo North senatorial zone. The one produced Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who was governor from 2008 to 2016.
A former deputy governor, Lucky Imasuen, who hails from Ovia North East LGA and a two-term member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, who is from Ovia South West LGA, represent the southern senatorial zone.
This zone produced Mr. Lucky Igbinedion, who was governor from 1999 to 2007, as well as the outgoing governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
Edo Central aspirants in the race include a retired Colonel and medical doctor, David Imuse, who hails from Esan West LGA, and the incumbent Senator representing the zone, Monday Okpebholo, who hails from Esan Central LGA.
Second Republic governor of the old Bendel State, Prof. Ambrose Folorunsho Alli, hailed from Ekpoma, in present day Edo State.
It was gathered that APC elders in the state and at the national seceretariat of the party are disposed to throwing open the contest as, in their thinking, the three senatorial zones have at one time or the other produced the governor.
APC elders, it was also gathered, are mindful of the incumbency advantage Governor Obaseki’s annointed in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will in the forthcoming election amd the need to put forward it’s best candidate.
