Ahead of the February 17, 2024 governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Edo State governorship election, four aspirants that were screened out by the Hon. Julius Ihonvbere-led committee said they have accepted the outcome of the screening in good faith.


DAILY POST reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has slated the off-cycle governorship election in Edo State for September 21, 2024.

It was learnt that the party had set up the committee as an internal mechanism to screen and prune down the number of aspirants to a manageable level, and also to ensure a rancour free primary election.


Those that were screened out, and accepted the outcome, are Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Prince Kassim Afegbua, former commissioner for Information and Orientation.

Others are Mrs Victoria Amu and Hon. Victor Otaigbe Eboigbe.

In their separate reactions, they noted that no individual was bigger than the party.


They explained that since they subscribed to the setting up of the committee, they abide by its decisions.

In his statement to supporters, Afolabi said, “It’s with all sense of gratitude that I inform you all that the journey we started together has come to a temporary end last night.

“This is so because my great party, the APC, has zoned the governorship out of Edo North. It is still victory for us, as in less than three weeks, we made so much incursion into the political space of Edo State.


“We will definitely be rewarded in due time. Inform your groups, friends, and our fans, please.”

On his part, Eboigbe, an aspirant from Edo Central, in his statement titled, ‘Everyone can’t be governor at the same time’, urged his supporters to accept the outcome of the screening.

He noted that the decision of the party is more important than the ambition of individual members.


Also speaking, Amu who said she will abide by the party’s decision, as her ambition is not bigger than the party.

Amu, who underscored the importance of party unity and cohesion, emphasized that the success of the APC in Edo State is paramount.

“While I am passionate about the prospect of serving the good people of Edo State as their governor, I want to make it unequivocally clear that my ambition is not greater than the supremacy of our party.

“The APC’s collective goals and the well-being of the people of Edo State are of utmost importance to me. I am fully aligned with the party’s vision and principles,” she stated.

Afegbua, who said he was screened out of the primary, noted that he accepted the party’s decision because to him, “politics is not a do or die affair”.

Recall that the committee had earlier pruned the numbers of aspirants from 29 to 10 aspirants, and subsequently to six, with two aspirants from each of the three senatorial districts.

It further pruned the list to four with two each from Edo Central and Edo South senatorial districts, thereby screening those from Edo North senatorial district out.

The four recommended aspirants for the primary election are Senator Monday Okpebholo, Col David Imuse, from Edo Central, and Chief Lucky Imasuen and Hon. Dennis Idahosa, from Edo South.
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Oshiomhole choice is between sen okpebholo,col imuse and hon idahosa.cc aswani, donphilopus

garfield1:
Oshiomhole choice is between sen okpebholo,col imuse and hon idahosa.cc aswani, donphilopus

Hmm, that is a strong field but Agba was a commissioner under Bàbà Oshio plus I doubt governorship would go from Ẹdo South to Ẹdo South so that might knock out your last two.

Make we siddon dey look sha.

Whoever gets the APC ticket is winning, clearly PDP have given up already in allowing Ọbasẹki to not only have a say in choosing their aspirant but letting him handpicked one of his Planwell boy boy from Lagos.

As for LP, even if Peter Obi himself campaigns in Edo state from now till election day, whoever they nominate is coming a very very distant third.

aswani:


Hmm, that is a strong field but Agba was a commissioner under Bàbà Oshio plus I doubt governorship would go from Ẹdo South to Ẹdo South so that might knock out your last two.

Make we siddon dey look sha.

Whoever gets the APC ticket is winning, clearly PDP have given up already in allowing Ọbasẹki to not only have a say in choosing their aspirant but letting him handpicked one of his Planwell boy boy from Lagos.

As for LP, even if Peter Obi himself campaigns in Edo state from now till election day, whoever they nominate is coming a very very distant third.

Hmmm

aswani:


Hmm, that is a strong field but Agba was a commissioner under Bàbà Oshio plus I doubt governorship would go from Ẹdo South to Ẹdo South so that might knock out your last two.

Make we siddon dey look sha.

Whoever gets the APC ticket is winning, clearly PDP have given up already in allowing Ọbasẹki to not only have a say in choosing their aspirant but letting him handpicked one of his Planwell boy boy from Lagos.

As for LP, even if Peter Obi himself campaigns in Edo state from now till election day, whoever they nominate is coming a very very distant third.

You people joke too much.

PDP will win Edo Governorship election while LP will come second.

The guy that Obaseki is projecting is loaded and qualified in all ramification to be the next governor of Edo state.

Edo people will not vote APC even Jesus is their flagbearer.

Penguin2:

You people joke too much.

The guy that Obaseki is projecting is loaded and qualified in all ramification to be the next governor of Edo state.

Ọbasẹki that we have never heard speak Benin and who stunk the joint out is going to hand over to Ighodalo who needed an interpreter to speak to his own Esan people.

If the LP aspirant doesn't lose his deposit, I am joining Obidients... ... OK I no go join Obidients lai lai but I will think of a suitable forfeit.

garfield1:


Lol,APC is winning Edo sir even if it's by forceful rigging

Abeg told am, Edo no bi Lagos.

The only thing left is the margin of victory for APC depending on who they bring out.

aswani:


Abeg told am, Edo no bi Lagos.

The only thing left is the margin of victory for APC depending on who they bring out.

Are you from Edo

garfield1:

Are you from Edo

That is a question I would rather not answer for personal reasons.

aswani:


That is a question I would rather not answer for personal reasons.

Obaseki was lucky to win last time,that nonsense will be corrected

Oga svoboda

Most Nigerians in diaspora are the majority of businesses and homes are still running steadily due remittances and endless black taxes, even investment and all then after you will say because they can’t speak their dialect fluently or because they are not home based locally they are not qualified to assume positions?

Primordial and full-fledged politician sentiment without competence and ability to perform?

Same thing was said about Asuen Ighodalo!

This country still has along way to go. Go to USA, UK, CA etc and see folks with immigrant descent assuming top political positions based on competence, ability and character.

Naija come belike crime scene and film trick for my eye.

aswani:


Ọbasẹki that we have never heard speak Benin and who stunk the joint out is going to hand over to Ighodalo who needed an interpreter to speak to his own Esan people.

If the LP aspirant doesn't lose his deposit, I am joining Obidients... ... OK I no go join Obidients lai lai but I will think of a suitable forfeit.

garfield1:


Obaseki was lucky to win last time,that nonsense will be corrected

If truth be told, Pastor was a weak APC candidate plus Godwin played the tribal card against Oshio Baba.

I am yet to meet a Benin person that fell for his 4 + 4 torgba that still likes him.

Like I said, before now Lucky was easily the worst governor, now it is between Lucky and Godwin for the worst governor.

This oncoming choice must be the right one in Edo state because there is so much to fix.

jowhyte:
Most Nigerians in diaspora are the majority of businesses and homes are still running steadily due remittances and endless black taxes, even investment and all then after you will say because they can’t speak their dialect fluently or because they are not home based locally they are not qualified to assume positions?

Primordial and full-fledged politician sentiment without competence and ability to perform?

Same thing was said about Asuen Ighodalo!

This country still has along way to go. Go to USA, UK, CA etc and see folks with immigrant descent assuming top political positions based on competence, ability and character.

Naija come belike crime scene and film trick for my eye.

How many branches of Sterling bank, or whatever bank Ighodalo is chairman of, is in Edo Central.or in Edo state as a whole?

Quite frankly, all these diasporian politicians are useless because they know they can run to Lagos after destroying the state, same thing Ọbasẹki is about to do.

Some are in House of Reps, Assembly and Senate too, they will chop clean mouth and return to their base outside the state.

If you are not based in Edo state, start an NGO to help people. Then start spending a bit more time locally knowing the people and what they want for a few years before putting yourself forward. Don't just come back home from wherever you are based to campaign.

Anyway I no blame dem as dem see local pipo finish sha.

aswani:


If truth be told, Pastor was a weak APC candidate plus Godwin played the tribal card against Oshio Baba.

I am yet to meet a Benin person that fell for his 4 + 4 torgba that still likes him.

Like I said, before now Lucky was easily the worst governor, now it is between Lucky and Godwin for the worst governor.

This oncoming choice must be the right one in Edo state because there is so much to fix.

Honestly,a lot of Edolites still like pdp and loathe APC

garfield1:


Honestly,a lot of Edolites still like pdp and loathe APC

Maybe in Central as they've always been PDP but I am not sure that is true for South. APC is confirmed in Edo North.

The (so called) Ndigbo hatred for APC/Yoruba/President Tinubu, bear with me, is not as strong in Edo south.

For APC to win in Imo state even shows that that hatred isn't South East wide.

All of this is my opinion sha, may the Good Lord keep us all till election day and beyond in good health. Expect some twist and turns as well as carpet crossing too along the way.

aswani:


Maybe in Central as they've always been PDP but I am not sure that is true for South. APC is confirmed in Edo North.

The Ndigbo hatred for APC/Yoruba/President Tinubu, bear with me, is not as strong in Edo south.

For APC to win in Imo state even shows that that hatred isn't South East wide.

All of this is my opinion sha, may the Good Lord keep us all till election day and beyond in good health. Expect some twist and turns as well as carpet crossing too along the way.

Hmmm.all APC needs is to pick a running mate from the north preferably hon prof ihonvbere or akpatason or maybe hon dekeri.they can also pick from the south preferably hon idahosa

Edos do not vote along party lines, rather individuals.

That's why the senators in the senatorial zones are in APC, APC and Labour for the North, Central and South respectively.

The strongest aspirants apart from Dr Asuen, who are getting increasing support are even in the APC.

Therefore, this election would be highly contested by individuals with very impressive resumes and track records.

Any party which fields a mediocre is on its own.

garfield1:



Hmmm.all APC needs is to pick a running mate from the north preferably hon prof ihonvbere or akpatason or maybe hon dekeri.they can also pick from the south preferably hon idahosa

Is Ize Iyamu not contesting this time

Regardless of who they pick in Edo North

Oshiomole will deliver the North

And with the way Obaseki treated his deputy, then no hope for PDP in Edo North

garfield1:


Honestly,a lot of Edolites still like pdp and loathe APC

Those that loathe APC will split their votes between PDP and LP

raumdeuter:


Those that loathe APC will split their votes between PDP and LP

Probably

raumdeuter:


Is Ize Iyamu not contesting this time

Regardless of who they pick in Edo North

Oshiomole will deliver the North

And with the way Obaseki treated his deputy, then no hope for PDP in Edo North

Exactly

aswani:


Ọbasẹki that we have never heard speak Benin and who stunk the joint out is going to hand over to Ighodalo who needed an interpreter to speak to his own Esan people.

If the LP aspirant doesn't lose his deposit, I am joining Obidients... ... OK I no go join Obidients lai lai but I will think of a suitable forfeit.

What is of paramount importance to you?

A governor that is fluent in Esan?

Or a governor with the pedigree to make Edo work?

garfield1:


Lol,APC is winning Edo sir even if it's by forceful rigging

In the next Edo election, APC will come third.

Remind me after the election.

garfield1:


Exactly

Is Ize Iyamu not contesting

Penguin2:

In the next Edo election, APC will come third.

Remind me after the election.

The last elections in Edo showed how it will be.apc took second in presidential,second in state assemblies and first in federal.edo will be taken by all means and you know this so why are you receiving yourself boy? Don't you learn?

raumdeuter:


Is Ize Iyamu not contesting

He is but obviously not wanted by oshio as he was screened out

Penguin2:

What is of paramount importance to you?

A governor that is fluent in Esan?

Or a governor with the pedigree to make Edo work?

One that understands the terrain, clearly Ọbasẹki doesn't and Asuẹn Ighodalo won't if he is being "godfathered" by Ọbasẹki.

Let them familiarise themselves with the locals first and see what's on ground.

Gelegele seaport is an example of what is not important to the locals but Ọbasẹki was at one point making it a priority. That one is dead and buried now thankfully after lots of consultant fees were no doubt funnelled into non local pockets.

A complete disrespect to the person of the Ọba, with the returned artefacts, is another example of Ọbasẹki's lack of understanding of his environment

Lucky was a local of sorts and can be used as a counter argument but he was a total slowpoke.

Penguin2:

In the next Edo election, APC will come third.

Remind me after the election.

Stop it, we are being serious here.

Go back to the part of Politics section where you and your friends abuse President Tinubu about everything wrong that has befallen you.

raumdeuter:


Is Ize Iyamu not contesting this time

Regardless of who they pick in Edo North

Oshiomole will deliver the North

And with the way Obaseki treated his deputy, then no hope for PDP in Edo North

PDP tend not to bother with Ẹdo north sane as APC look the other way in Edo central. It's Ẹdo south that is the tie breaker.

I have a feeling Pastor will go to LP and chance Àpáta to collect the nomination after being screened out in APC. The man is a cat with nine lives.

aswani:


PDP tend not to bother with Ẹdo north sane as APC look the other way in Edo central. It's Ẹdo south that is the tie breaker.

I have a feeling Pastor will go to LP and chance Àpáta to collect the nomination after being screened out in APC. The man is a cat with nine lives.

Pastor wont go to LP cos he will burn bridges. He can position himself for Senate in his District or ministerial, once he goes to LP he don join bad gang and will be blacklisted. If he is an experienced politician I expect him to stay loyal to APC

APC will follow dem drag for central and South, Know that APC is in FG and many politicians looking to chop from Federal shop will want to deliver for APC now. Thats why you see many opposition politicians gradually twerking for APC so you can keep open your link to appointments

Many know that is they work for PDP and Asue losses thats the end, but if they work for APC even if they lose they can get compensation from Federal. That is why all those getting screened out in APC are not going haywire. The hope of Federal appointment or to fill Edo state slots in FG Boards

Anyone going to LP is just to gather twitter clout and that seems like what Olumide Akpata will be doing

APC strategy is clear North 90%, split South 50-50 and try collect 30% from Central