Senator Monday Okpebholo, who claimed victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Edo State, has demanded his certificate of return.
Okpebholo made this demand just a day after another aspirant, Anamero Dekeri, controversially announced as the winner, made a similar request at the party’s secretariat.
The primary election’s Electoral Committee Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma, declared Dennis Idahosa as the winner, while the returning officer, Stanley Ugboaja, announced Monday Okpebholo as the winner.
Adding to the confusion, Ojo Babatunde, claiming to represent the returning officers in all local governments, declared Dekeri as the winner.
In a letter to the National Chairman of APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Okpebholo requested the certificate, citing his victory with over 12,000 of the 24,000 accredited voters. He also appealed to the Appeal Committee of the ruling party for the same.
In the letter, Okpebholo detailed the elections committee’s successful conduct of the polls and urged the committee to uphold the result collated, signed, and announced.
Okpebholo alleged that Governor Hope Uzodimma’s announced results were not a true reflection of the poll, stating that the final tally showed his victory over Dennis Idahosa.
He accused Uzodimma of releasing fictitious figures and exposing the party to ridicule, as he failed to visit the designated collation center throughout the exercise.
