Reps majority leader, Ihonvbere, loses third term return bid

The majority leader of the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, has lost his bid to return to the lower chamber of the National Assembly for a third term.

Ihonvbere, who contested the Owan Federal Constituency seat with the immediate past Commissioner for Mining, Andrew Ijegbai, lost the All Progressives Congress (APC), hails from the Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

His defeat at the primary election after two terms in the Green Chamber means that the seat will return to the Owan East Local Area, in continuation of the gentleman’s agreement by the two local government areas to rotate the seat after two terms.

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Announcing the result of the primary at the APC secretariat, the Returning Officer, Kelvin Muhammed, said that Andrew Ijegbai won the election, scoring 3695.

According to him, “Five people contested this election. They are Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, Hon. Abdul Oroh Professor Julius Ihonvbere, Hon. Folly Ogidegbe and Barrister Stewart.

“The scores are as follows: Honourable Andrew Ijegbia scored 3,695 votes. Honorable Abdul Oroh scores 1,740 votes while Professor Julius Ihonvbere scored 1,005 votes.

“Honourable Folly scored 505 votes. Barrister Scot scored 642 vote. Total vote cast is 7,587 and the winner of this contest which is the primary is Hon. Andrew Ijegbai.”

In his response, Ijegbai commended the party executive for embarking on a transparent exercise and promised to represent the people well if elected at the general election.

Ihonvbere was not the only serving House of Representatives member who lost his return bid.

In Oredo Federal Constituency, Similarly, the incumbent, Eseosa Iyawe also lost his re-election bid as he was defeated by Dr. Paddy Iyamu, the immediate past Commissioner for Education,who polled 7088 votes.

The full list of winners of the primary election are: Dr. Paddy Iyamu (Oredo Federal Constituency), Omosede Igbinedion (Ovia Federal Constituency); Felix Osazee Igbinovia (Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency); Billy Osawaru (Uhunmwonde/Orhionmwon Federal Constituency), Odianosen Okojie (Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency); Dr. Lucky Eseigbe (Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency); Bankole Balogun – Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency); Anamero Sunday Dekeri (Etsako Federal Constituency) and Andrew Ijegbai (Owan Federal Constituency).