The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced plans to conduct a new primary election on Thursday in Edo state to determine its candidate for the September 2024 governorship election. This decision follows the party’s declaration that the previous primary election was “not completed.”

After the primary election held on Saturday, Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo State and chairman of the Edo primary election committee, declared Dennis Idahosa, a member of the House of Representatives, as the winner. However, returning officers from various local government areas announced Sunday Dekeri, a lawmaker representing Etsako federal constituency in the House of Representatives, as the victor of the primary, leading to controversy and allegations.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders Forum raised concerns that Idahosa was declared the winner before the completion of the exercise, while Monday Okpebholo, a senator representing Edo central and a governorship aspirant, claimed that he won the election with over 6,000 votes.

Before the primary election, several aspirants had withdrawn from the race for various reasons, including Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former candidate in the previous election, who withdrew for the sake of peace and unity within the party.

The upcoming new primary on Thursday is expected to bring clarity and resolution to the ongoing disputes surrounding the APC governorship candidacy in Edo.