According to Sahara Reporters, Senator Oserheimen Osunbor, a prominent contender for the Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in the forthcoming 2024 elections, has urged President Bola Tinubu to step in and address the brewing crisis within the party following Saturday’s contentious primary election.
The primary election, marred by irregularities, has sparked uproar within the party ranks after three candidates were declared winners, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the process.
Speaking at a press conference held on Sunday evening in Iruekpen, his hometown, Senator Osunbor recounted the events of the weekend and advocated for the annulment of the election results.
“On Saturday, 27th of February 2024, all registered members of APC across Edo State turned out to cast their votes for their preferred gubernatorial candidate slated for the 21st of September election. However, to the dismay of many, the election did not take place as scheduled across the 18 local government areas of Edo State,” Senator Osunbor lamented.
He further elaborated, “Party officials dispatched from the Abuja office of the National Organising Secretary to oversee the elections were reportedly sequestered in hotels in Benin, with no evidence of their presence or engagement in the electoral process.”
“In my own Ward 6 of Esan LGA, where over 200 members had gathered in anticipation, not a single electoral official from the party showed up,” he emphasized.
Senator Osunbor raised concerns over the authenticity of the election results, citing instances where purported outcomes were disseminated without proper verification.
“In Esan West and other LGAs including Akoko-Edo and Etsako West, there was no semblance of an election. Instead, what transpired was the arbitrary allocation of votes by individuals in Benin, tarnishing the integrity of the electoral process,” he asserted.
Expressing suspicions of foul play orchestrated to undermine the party’s integrity and bolster the opposition’s chances, Senator Osunbor appealed to President Tinubu to intervene urgently.
“I appeal to his excellency President Bola Tinubu to initiate an investigation into the alleged manipulation of the primary election, which has fueled discord within the party and jeopardized our electoral prospects,” Senator Osunbor urged.
Furthermore, he implored President Tinubu to nullify the election results and facilitate the conduct of a fresh primary election in adherence to party guidelines and electoral laws.
“The primary election, mired in controversy and irregularities, cannot withstand legal scrutiny and poses a grave risk to the APC’s electoral fortunes. We cannot afford to repeat past mistakes that led to our defeat in 2020,” he cautioned.