A former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has slammed Adams Oshiomhole, a former Governor of Edo State, for allegedly attempting to impose a gubernatorial candidate on the party.
Fayemi accused Oshiomhole, a former national chairman of the party, of playing a “disruptive” role during the February 17, 2024, governorship primary election in the state.
Last Saturday, the APC organised a primary election in Edo, ahead of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in the state.
The primaries produced three candidates who are all laying claim to the party gpvernorship ticket.
Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo State and chairman of the primary election committee, declared Dennis Idahosa winner; Ojo Babatunde, spokesperson of the returning officers, declared Sunday Dekeri winner, while Monday Okpebholo, the senator representing Edo Central, claimed that he won the election with over 6,000 votes.
The national leadership of the APC on Tuesday declared the primary election inconclusive.
The party has fixed Thursday, February 22, 2024, as the new date for the completion of the primary election process.
Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross River State, has replaced Uzodinma as the chairman of the primary election committee.
On Wednesday, Oshiomhole met President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa over the Edo primary election.
The senator said the President expressed his commitment to a free and fair primary and that he is not in support of zoning the party’s ticket.
However, in a statement by Ahmad Sajoh, his media aide, Fayemi on Thursday blamed Oshiomhole for the crisis that has engulfed the APC in Edo State.
Fayemi said Oshiomhole ousted Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo State, from the party during the build up to the 2020 gubernatorial poll in the state.
“Earlier, Oshiomhole had attempted to eliminate some aspirants from contesting the primaries but failed. This is reminiscent of his high-handedness as national chairman when he manipulatively schemed Governor Godwin Obaseki out of the electoral process. That action led to the unfortunate loss of Edo State by the APC,” Fayemi said.
“It would appear the ground was being prepared by Oshiomhole yet again for the APC to lose the coming election in Edo State because of his unconscionable behaviour.
“However, the party has demonstrated independence and impartiality in cancelling and reordering the primaries.
“We hope the fresh primaries will now take place in an atmosphere deemed free and fair by all, for the sake of our great party.
“Oshiomhole may decide to support any of the aspirants if he chooses not to be neutral but the process must be open, free, and transparent, following the laid down rules.
“My interest is the APC and the party must put its best foot forward in the forthcoming elections.”
