- Defeats Oshiomhole’s preferred candidate, West Idahosa
By Abiola Olawale
Senator Monday Okpebholo has been declared winner of the All Progressives Congress governorship primaries in Edo State.
Okpebholo was declared the official flagbearer of the party at Lushville Hotel and Suites in Benin.
Declaring the outcome of the election, Chairman of the election committee and Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, said following the collation of results from the 18 Local Government Areas, Okpebholo polled 12,433 votes to defeat Dennis Idahosa who polled 6,541 votes and other 10 aspirants who contested the re-run election.
The New Diplomat reports that the first primary election was declared inconclusive after three winners emerged from the contest.
It would be recalled that the former Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the primary, Governor Uzodimma, had announced Idahosa as winner, while returning officer, Stanley Ugboaja, declared Okpebholo as winner.
Elsewhere, Ojo Babatunde, who claimed to be representing the returning officers in all the local governments declared Anamero Dekeri as the winner of the election.
Idahosa who is a serving member of the House of Representatives is believed to have been backed by comrade Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor and current Senator representing Edo North in the Senate.
