The acting Chairman of the Edo State All Progressives Congress, Jarrett Tenebe, says his efforts are now geared towards fostering unity in the party following the rancour generated in the party over its just concluded governorship primary.
The first governorship primary, conducted on February 17, was cancelled after it threw up three ‘winners’.
The national leadership of the APC had to order a rerun of the primary and replaced Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as the chairman of the electoral committee, with the Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu.
In the rerun governorship primary conducted by Otu last Thursday, Senator Monday Okpebholo, emerged as the winner.
The result is, however, still being contested by two of the aspirants, Dennis Idahosa and Anamero Dekeri, who were among the three candidates declared winners in the original primary.
Rejecting the outcome of the rerun primary, Idahosa said, “The declaration of fictitious primary election results by the Senator Bassey Otu’s Committee represents the highest level of rape on democracy ever witnessed in Edo State.”
On his part, Dekeri said, “I reject the results and I will challenge it at the appeal panel. The conduct of the primaries lacked transparency and was skewed in favour of Okpebholo.”
However, speaking on Sunday, the Edo APC chairman said it was time to reconcile aggrieved parties in order not to jeopardise the party’s chances in the forthcoming September 21, 2024 governorship poll.
Tenebe said, “We are making moves to set up a reconciliation committee to bring everybody together because that is what we need at this stage.
“I acknowledge the challenges faced during the primaries and I make a resolute commitment to resolving lingering issues.
“We are going to get in touch with our leader, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and every other thing that played out during the primaries will be put to rest.
“Moving forward, we will work together, move en masse all through the night; we will not sleep until we take over Edo State.”
