Parallel Edo APC governorship candidate emerges

Another candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has emerged as the winner of the All Progressives Congress governorship primary election in Edo on Saturday.

The Returning Officer, Stanley Ugboaja, declared Okpebholo the winner with 12,145 votes.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is also the chairman of the APC primary election committee, had earlier declared a House of Representatives member, Dennis Idahosa, the winner of the primary election at the Protea Hotel.

However, Ugboaja said he was the right person to announce the result while declaring Okpebholo the winner.

“I am the right person to declare the results of this primary election but unfortunately I was not allowed to finish the announcement. We will continue the announcement here (Ize-Iyamu residence).

“Having scored the highest number of votes, I hereby declare Senator Okpebholo the winner of the election,” he added.

However, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Uwadiae, described the announcement by Uzodimma as illegal and urged the party hierarchy and APC members to disregard the governor’a action.