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Sorrow, blood, and tears herald APC guber primaries in Edo as 3 candidates emerge
By Elvis Omoregie, Benin
Benin City, the capital of Edo State, was engulfed in turmoil on Saturday afternoon as blood flowed freely from broken ribs, heads, and limbs courtesy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primaries.
At the end of the exercise, three candidates emerged: Senator Monday Okpebholo, who represents Edo Central Senatorial District; Hon. Dennis Idahosa, who represents Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; and Hon. Anamero Sunday Deker, who represents Eksakor Federal Constituency in the federal House of Representatives.
From nowhere, daredevil street urchins and thugs in their numbers stormed the venue and unleashed terror on just about everybody in sight. At the end of the bedlam, losses incurred and life-threatening injuries sustained were in monumental proportion. Most of the victims were cameramen from the different media establishments whose valuable equipment was destroyed and party officials who were inflicted with injuries.
The reporters were now directed to move to the Protea Hotel, close to the headquarters of the Edo State Police Command, where Governor Hope Uzodinma led the Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee.
In announcing the outcome of the primary exercise, Governor Uzodinma said that of the 42,000 votes cast, Idahosa got over 40,000 votes to emerge as the winner.
Meanwhile, at the Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu residence, where the Lushville Hotel ensemble later relocated, Senator Okpebholo was declared the winner, having scored 12,145 votes in comparison to the 5,536 votes obtained by Idahosa.
According to Stanley Ugboaja, the returning officer for the election, out of the 42,000 delegates who met the APC’s criteria to partake in the primaries only 29,000 participated.
Immediately thereafter, the local government returning officers for the 2024 Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries election later declared Anamero Sunday Dekeri the winner of the contest.
Spokesman of the local government returning officers, Mr. Ojo Babatunde, who announced the result on Saturday night, said Dekeri polled a total of 25,384 votes to defeat his closest rival, Dennis Idahosa, who scored 14,127 votes.
Flanked by some returning officers, Babatunde said Dekeri polled a total of 25,384384 votes to defeat his closest rival, Dennis Idahosa, who scored 14,127 votes.
