APC bows to pressure, replaces Uzodinma with Otu as chair of Edo primary

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has replaced Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State with Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State as the chairman of its governorship primary election committee in Edo State.

The party had declared the initial primary election inconclusive after some governorship aspirants were declared winners of the exercise.

The removal of Uzodinma followed pressure from stakeholders, including at least four aspirants in the contest, who appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to remove Imo State governor as chairman of the party’s primary election committee to ensure a free and fair primary poll in Edo State today.

Recall that the party’s primary conducted by the Uzodinma-led committee on Saturday had thrown the party into confusion after three different candidates—Denis Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and Anamero Sunday Dekeri—emerged as winners ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the state.

This controversy had culminated in the APC National Working Committee (NWC) holding an emergency meeting Tuesday night in Abuja, where they resolved to conduct a fresh primary in the state today.

Earlier on Wednesday, in a statement jointly signed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu (who had early withdrawn from the race), Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and General Charles Airhiavbere (retd), the aspirants said Uzodinma did not observe the minimum requirements for compliance with the relevant provisions of the laws and regulations guiding the election as provided both in the Electoral Act and in the APC Constitution.

Also, protesters on Wednesday stormed the APC national secretariat in Abuja, demanding the sack of Uzodinma as chairman of the primary election committee.

The protesters, led by Ambassador Tijani Abdulmumini, were carrying placards and banners with different inscriptions, such as ‘Uzodinma must go’ and ‘We demand a free and fair primary’, among others.

Also addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the Chairman of the African Civil Society Forum, Tunji Asaolu, asked Uzodimma to step aside for the credibility of the process today.

He also urged all stakeholders involved in the APC primary election in Edo State to play their roles according to the rule of law, fairness, and transparency.

Apparently reacting to the controversy generated by the inconclusive primary and the opposition against Uzodinma, the party, in a release issued by Sulaiman Argungu, its National Organising Secretary, announced that the seven-man primary election committee would now be chaired by Governor Out while Rabiu Suleiman would act as its secretary.

Other members of the committee are Shetima Shehu, Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Nentanwe Yilwatda Goshwe, Umar Hassan, and Lawan Garba, while the primary election appeals committee would be chaired by Barrister C.C. Udenwa, with Yunusa Muhammad as secretary and Muhammad Zakari Sarina, Udogu Anthony Chijioke, and Mohammad Garin Ali as members.