Edo Guber: Why NWC Declared APC Primaries inconclusive

By Editor 

February 21, 2024

Facts have emerged on the reason behind the rescheduling of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship's  primary, held last Saturday ahead of the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election in Edo State.

DailyMonitorngr reports that the primary which has been declared inconclusive by the National Working Committee (NWC) to take place February 22, 2024 (tomorrow).

Dailymonitorngr also reports that one of the major reasons for declaring the primary exercise was a letter from  the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which informed the APC's National Working Committee that, in their records, the party had not conducted its primary election. 

It was gathered that INEC hinged its reports  conclusion on the venue that was communicated to it which was Lushvile hotel.

It was also learnt  that in the reports submitted to the NWC, INEC pointed out that both the 'private residence' of one of the aspirants where the State Returning Officer, Mr Stanley Ugboaja had declared Senator Monday Okpebholo as winner, and Protea Hotel where Governor Hope Uzodinma declared Hon Dennis Idahosa winner, were both not the venue recognized by the Commission. 

Other reasons was the introduction of a 'State Returning Officer' which a section of national leadership of the party, including  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu frowned at. 

It was further gathered that more worrisome was  the discovery that  Stanley Ugboaja is a staff in the office of Mr Nze Chidi Duru, Deputy National Organising Secretary of APC. 

President Tinubu was quoted to be "very embarrassed by the open interest that was displayed by a section of the NWC, which he noted was capable of dividing the Edo APC.

It was learnt that President Tinubu had no choice but to declare the primary exercise  inconclusive, and therefore, rescheduled the primary in line with party's existing guidelines.

The decision,  it was learnt was  to avoid litigations.