Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has reportedly endorsed Dennis Idahosa as the flagbearer for the Edo September 2024 governorship election.
Ganduje’s endorsement comes amidst the chaos and controversies surrounding the primary election held last weekend in the state.
It would be recalled that Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state who heads the APC election committee for Edo state announced Dennis Idahosa as the winner of the poll.
However, confusion arose as another governorship candidate emerged on Saturday from a parallel primary election in the state.
Shortly after Dennis Idahosa was declared as the winner, another group which held a parallel primary election declared a senator, Monday Okpebholo, as the APC governorship candidate in the state, according to a report by Channels TV.
Speaking at a press conference held at the residence of one of the aspirants, who had earlier announced his withdrawal from the contest, Ugboajah said Senator Okpepholo polled 12,145 votes to defeat the other aspirants.
In a surprising turn of events, Anamero Sunday Dekeri was also declared the winner of the primary contest by the Local Government Returning Officers.
Babatunde Ojo, who spoke on behalf of the local government returning officers, announced that Dekeri secured a total of 25,384 votes, surpassing his closest rival Dennis Idahosa, who received 14,127 votes.
With the development, APC now has Idahosa, Okpebholo and Dekiri as candidates for the Edo guber, causing confusing in the ruling camp.
However, in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Ganduje commended Uzodinma, who led the Election Committee, for successfully conducting a transparent primary.
Ganduje urged other aspirants to put aside their differences now that the primary election is over and support the winner (Idahosa) to win the governorship election.
“I congratulate the winner of the Edo State governorship election. I want to equally commend and appreciate Governor Uzodinma’s election committee for their hard work and the transparent manner in which the primary election was conducted,” Ganduje.