By Ken Afor
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has categorically stated that Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Edo Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee, Hope Uzodinma, was neither sacked nor dropped from his position as widely reported in the media.
In a statement released on Thursday by Mr. Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Governor Uzodimma was unavoidably unavailable to monitor the completion of the party’s gubernatorial primary election process in Edo due to other national assignments.
Mr. Morka noted that Governor Uzodinma, who is also the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), needed to prepare his presentation of a report for the National Economic Council meeting today, Thursday, February 22, 2024.
According to him, the Governor of Cross Rivers State, Bassey Otu, who is the Deputy Chairman of the committee, stepped in for Uzodinma to complete the process.
He said, “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to reports in sections of the media suggesting that the Governor of Imo State, and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), His Excellency, Hope Uzodinma, was sacked or dropped as the Chairman of the Edo Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee, and replaced with the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Bassey Otu.
“We wish to clarify that Governor Uzodinma was neither “sacked” nor “dropped”, as has been erroneously reported, but was unavoidably unavailable to lead the completion of the Party’s Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election Process due to his prior scheduled attendance of, and presentation of a report, to the National Economic Council meeting today February 22, 2024.
“As a result, His Excellency Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross Rivers State, who was the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, graciously accepted to serve as Chairman, and to complete the Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election Process.”
It would be recalled that Governor Uzodinma declared Hon. Dennis Idahosa the winner of the primaries, contrary to laid down guidelines.
