Parallel primaries mar APC senatorial election in Edo, as aspirants lay claim to victory 

By Jethro Ibileke

Confusion and parallel elections on Monday marred the senatorial election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.

Representatives from the party’s headquarters in Abuja had conducted the election only in the Edo South senatorial district.

It was gathered that officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), were on the ground to observe the conduct of the primaries held across the seven local government areas that made up the Senatorial District.

As at the end of the election, two aspirants, namely, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama are both laying claim to victory in the election.

In one of the primaries, Ogbeide-Ihama who is speculated to have been sponsored by former Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo, was declared winner.

According to Mohammad Ajana, the party’s Returning Officer, Ogbeide-Ihama polled a total of 27,154 votes while Senator Neda Imasuen scored 13, 580 votes and Ize-Iyamu got 6,785 votes in all the 77 wards across the seven local government areas of the senatorial district.

In the parallel election reportedly conducted by one Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, declared Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the winner.

Kabiru said Osagie Ize-Iyamu scored 33,399 votes to emerge the winner, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama polled 12,560 votes while Neda Imasuen got 5,107 votes.

Ize-Iyamu who spoke shortly after he was announced winner, expressed gratitude to his supporters. He assured them of better representation after the next round of victory in the general election.

He desc4ibed the victory as a mark of significant step as he prepares to represent the APC in the senatorial district.