- Fresh shadow poll would be conducted in the 192 wards, across the 18 local government areas of the state
The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, who is the chairman of Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship direct primary election, has disclosed that a fresh shadow poll would be conducted in the 192 wards, across the 18 local government areas of the state.
Otu, who briefly addressed reporters at Lushville Hotel and Suites, Gapiona Avenue, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin, revealed that last Saturday’s controversial primary election had been cancelled.
Meanwhile, Ace aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in the Edo governorship race, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor has pulled out of the rescheduled primary election scheduled for today.
Osunbor disclosed this in a letter dated February 21, 2024.
Recall that the former Edo governor last Tuesday submitted a petition to the APC Appeals committee and demanded a rescheduled primary that would be free and fair.
However, in the letter released on Wednesday, Osunbor pointed out illegality in the primary held last Saturday in which Dennis Idahosa emerged as the winner.
According to the letter, Osunbor said, “The primary election purportedly conducted last Saturday 17 February 2024 was, in my view, an exercise in illegality, shameful and a reckless and total disregard of the procedure under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, the APC Constitution, and the Guidelines for the Conduct of the Governorship primaries.
“To suggest or imply, as the statement seems to convey, that the National Working Committee desires to complete a totally flawed process goes against my principles of integrity, transparency and all the values that I hold dear.
“Accordingly, I hereby give you notice that I.do not wish to participate in the process which I see as an attempt to legitimise the illegitimate exercise of last Saturday. It is an attempt to build something on nothing.”
He further said, “My attention has been drawn to a Press Statement published this morning by Felix Morka, Esq, the APC Publicity Secretary, to the effect that the National Working Committee of the party has resolved “that the Edo State Governorship Primary Election has not been completed, and has now fixed Thursday, February 22, 2024 (tomorrow) for, the completion of the Primary Election Process.”
“Kindly therefore remove my name from the list of aspirants forthwith. With assurances of my respect as I remain a member of APC,” he added.