APC Removes Uzodimma, Names Otu As Chairman Of Fresh Edo Guber Primary Election
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has been replaced as the chairman of the Edo State Primary election committee by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A few days ago, under Uzodimma’s leadership, the committee faced controversy when it produced three different candidates – Dennis Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and Anamero Sunday Dekeri – for the upcoming Edo governorship election scheduled for September 21.
In response to the controversy, the ruling party’s NWC held an emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday night. During the meeting, it was decided that a fresh primary would be conducted on Thursday.
A new committee has been formed to oversee the election, with Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River appointed as the chairman. The list of committee members was released on the eve of the new primary.
The APC national organizing secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, listed Hon. Shettima Shehu, Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Nentanwe Yilwatda Goshwe, Umar Hassan, and Lawan Garba as members, with Alhaji Rabiu Suleiman appointed as the committee’s secretary.
Barrister C.C Udenwa was appointed as the chairman of the appeal committee, with Muhammed Zakari Sarina, Udogu Anthony Chijioke, and Muhammad Garin Ali as members, and Yunusa Mohammed as the secretary.
Dr. Wambai Ahmed, Prof. Adediwura Alaba Adeyemi, Barrister Sanusi Samaila, Niyi Akinsuju, Stanley Ugboaja, and Sani Galadima were named as members of the secretariat for the primary election and primary election appeal committee.
Before the announcement, some aspirants had rejected Uzodinma and called for President Tinubu and the Abdullahi Ganduje-led NWC to remove him as the exercise’s chairman.
In a collective statement, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) expressed their concerns regarding Uzodinma’s failure to meet the necessary criteria outlined in the Electoral Act and the APC Constitution.
They said, “We strongly believe that whatever was responsible for his flagrant disregard for due process and unusual hasty declaration of unconfirmed fictitious results of the primaries outside the designated collation center may not have abated from his mind, and therefore may be repeated if given the opportunity to play the same role as chairman in the process.
“In the circumstance, we are calling on Mr. President to kindly use his good offices to replace Senator Hope Uzodinma with any other respected member of our great party, as chairman whom the President strongly believes will comply with the law, maintain internal democracy, protect and defend the integrity and goodwill of the President which he has attained over the years that endeared him to both national and international stakeholders.
“Furthermore, we believe that this is the only way to remedy the ridicule and embarrassment that Uzodinma’s tactless and overzealous behaviour, which in the view of keen observers of happenings in the ongoing process of nominating a viable candidate of our party, runs within the borderline of mischief and clotted with antidemocratic vestments, unknown to law.
“We have implicit confidence in Mr President’s devotion to justice, equity and fairness in the process that will produce the Gubernatorial Candidate of our party in Edo State, which is now rescheduled for tomorrow, 22nd February 2024, and also ensure victory for our party in the governorship election that is scheduled for September 2024.”
Furthermore, demonstrators breached the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, calling for the removal of Uzodinma as the head of the primary election committee.
The group, led by Ambassador Tijani Abdulminim, displayed various signs and banners with messages like ‘Uzodinma must be replaced’ and ‘we insist on a transparent primary process’.
In the meantime, Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of the APC, released a statement urging governors who belong to the party to oust Uzodinma from his position due to his disappointing performance in Edo State.
