Guber poll: It’s unfair for APC to single out Edo for zoning  — Oshiomhole

Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has said that it will be unfair for the All Progressive Congress (APC) to implement zoning in the party’s rescheduled primary for the forthcoming gubernatorial election when it did not do so in Kogi and Benue states.

The Senator representing Edo North met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Wednesday after which he told correspondents that the state chapter of the ruling party is not interested in “turn-by-turn democracy.”

His visit to the President came at the heels of the rejection of Hon Dennis Idahosa, as the winner of the primary election announced by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State after last Saturday’s exercise. 

Two other candidates including Senator Monday Okpebholo and Sunday Dekeri also claimed victory as they accused the former governor of trying to impose Idahosa. 

Edo APC stakeholders opposed to Idahosa have cited the fact that he is from the same Edo South Senatorial District as the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki who is completing his two-term eight years tenure, advocating that power should move to a different zone. 

But Oshiomhole insisted that after discussing the zoning question with President Tinubu, the President expressed his commitment only to a free and fair primary. 

He said Tinubu told him that the rescheduled primary should not be based on zoning but the will of the majority of APC.

Oshiomhole maintained that after allowing Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo to succeed Yahaya Bello even though they are from the same senatorial district, and also not stop the Tivs from dominating Benue State governorship elections, the APC cannot single out Edo State for zoning.

Details to come later…