In a significant development, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, who is also the Chairman of the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship direct primary election committee, has announced that a new primary will be conducted across the 18 local government areas of the state, covering 192 wards.
Governor Otu made this announcement while addressing journalists at the Lushville Hotel and Suites, located on Gapiona Avenue in the Government Reservation Area of Benin, on Thursday. He stated that the previous primary election held on Saturday, which was mired in controversy, had been cancelled.
As Prime 9ja Online reported, the ruling APC had earlier removed Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State as Chairman of the Election Committee following the controversy that surrounded Saturday's governorship primary in Edo State. Governor Otu was named as his successor.
This change was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu. The statement confirmed that the responsibility of conducting the re-run poll, scheduled for Thursday, February 22, now rests with Governor Otu.
The Primary Election Committee comprises other members including former Osun State deputy governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, APC’s flagbearer in the Plateau State 2023 governorship election, Nentanwe Goshwe, Umar Musa, Lawan Garba and Rabiu Suleiman, who will serve as the Secretary.
This change in leadership came a few hours after four leading aspirants called for Uzodimma’s replacement. Aspirants such as Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo and General Charles Airhiavbere (retd.) expressed their lack of confidence in Uzodimma’s ability to conduct a free and fair election, given the controversy that trailed Saturday's poll.
Uzodimma had declared Dennis Idahosa, a 43-year-old member of the House of Representatives, as the winner of the contest, stating that Idahosa had polled 40,483 votes to defeat other governorship hopefuls in the race.
However, the controversy that ensued from the conduct of the primary led the APC National Working Committee to declare the poll inconclusive.