Former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, has voiced his support for the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to narrow down the pool of governorship aspirants in Edo State to six. The move, led by a former governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has garnered mixed reactions from various stakeholders.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the state governorship election for September 21, 2024, and the APC has set February 17, 2024, for the primary where its candidate will emerge. In an effort to ensure a smooth and peaceful primary election, the APC established a committee to screen and reduce the number of aspirants to a manageable level.
The committee initially pruned the aspirants from 29 to 10 before eventually settling on six, with two aspirants emerging from each of the three senatorial districts. The selected aspirants include Ernest Umakhihe (Owan East LGA), Clem Agba (Etsako East LGA), Lucky Imasuen (Ovia North East LGA), Dennis Idahosa (Ovia South West LGA), David Imuse (Esan West LGA), and Monday Okpebholo (Esan Central LGA).
While some aspirants, such as Anamero Dekeri, have criticized the pruning process, Clem Agba clarified that all 29 aspirants agreed to the reduction, citing the need to minimize resource wastage. He explained, “The meeting was chaired by the leader of APC in Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole in Abuja. And the aspirants were asked, ‘do you agree that we should do this?’ And there was no one that rejected the suggestion that was made.”
Agba emphasized that the pruning was not based on zoning and that all three senatorial districts were represented in the final selection. He also asserted that the process was fair, stating, “The process was fair, but I don’t have the details of the report. So I don’t know what was written in the report to know whether it was fair or not.”
As the APC leadership considers the committee’s report as advisory, Agba addressed concerns about the possibility of further pruning, highlighting the need for transparency and fairness in the selection process. He raised questions about the absence of a written report detailing the criteria used for the final selection, emphasizing the importance of clarity and accountability in such a significant political decision.
The decision to limit the number of governorship aspirants in Edo State has sparked discussions not only within the APC but also among political observers and the public. As the countdown to the primary election continues, the implications of this move and its perceived fairness will undoubtedly remain under scrutiny.
