All is now set for Monday’s Edo State governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the election committee headed by Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo on Sunday released procedures for the election which it said is in line with the state government’s Covid-19 regulation.
Besides, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, reiterated the determination of the police to provide adequate security for the exercise.
A statement by the secretary of the committee, Dr Ajibola Basiru, said voting would commence simultaneously by 8 am at the 192 wards in the state insisting that not more than 18 persons would be allowed to gather at the same time from the commencement of voting till the end of the exercise when results would be announced.
The statement said, “That the process of election of the candidate of the party shall commence at 8.00 am on Monday, 22nd June 2020 at the various wards in all the Local Government with strict compliance with Edo State’s extant law prohibiting gathering of more than twenty persons.
“Not more than eighteen persons including presiding officers and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observers shall be at ward voting centre at any point in time.
“There shall be simultaneous accreditation and voting in batches as aforesaid until all eligible members have cast their vote without violation of the state’s Covid-19 regulations.”
While advising the party faithful and members of the public to be peaceful and comply fully with the state’s Covid-19 regulations, the scribe emphasized that not more than 18 persons shall be in attendance for the announcement of results at all ward centres and collation of results at all levels including the state collation.
Kokumo, who spoke in Benin City on Sunday, said that the command will deploy its men throughout the 192 wards in the state where the direct primary is scheduled to hold in preparation for the governorship election which comes up in September.
Governor Godwin Obaseki who has since defected to the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former minister of state for Works, Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi, were recently disqualified over their academic qualifications and other issues while another aspirant, Mathew Iduorieyekemwen, was also booted out by the ruling party’s screening committee for hurriedly taking it court.
Following the disqualification, the coast is now clear for the trio of former Secretary to Edo State Government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu and ex-Oredo Local Government Area chairman, Mr Osaro Obaze to slug it out for the party’s ticket.
The Edo Police boss said: “We are prepared for all the parties’ primary in the state. Zenith Labour Party have just done theirs. We were on ground to provide security. For the APC and indeed, all the parties, we will be on the ground to ensure a hitch free exercise.”
One of the factional chairmen, Mr Anslem Ojezua, however, insisted that the exercise was in futility and illegal and will never recognise the outcome.
Ojezua said that he was with Chief Victor Giadom and doesn’t recognize Mr Hillard Etta as the acting national chairman, adding that anything he does is null and void.
He said: “I am not a party to the illegality. I don’t recognise the primary as it is illegal. Whatever Chief Etta does is illegal because I don’t recognise him as the acting national chairman of our party. The party primary in Edo State is presently being challenged in court, so I can never be part of it.”
Col. David Imuse (rtd), the state chairman loyal to the national leadership of the year party, however, faulted Ojezua, explaining that it is the duty of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to organise state primary and not states.
Imuse said that he was very comfortable with Chief Etta as active as acting national chairman and fully aligned his decision.
He said: “It is the duty of the National Working Committee of the party to organise primary. The state has no role to play in it. It will amount to an exercise in futility for anybody to challenge it. As the acting chairman of Edo APC, I am fully in support.”
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