Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, has alleged that Senator Adams Oshiomhole tried to force a gubernatorial candidate on the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.
Fayemi claimed that the governor played a disruptive role during the governorship primary election on February 17, 2024.
During the primary election, three different umpires declared three different governorship aspirants as winners.
The governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, and chairman of the primary election committee, announced Dennis Idahosa, a member of the house of representatives, as the winner.
However, Ojo Babatunde, spokesperson of the returning officers, declared Sunday Dekeri, a lawmaker representing Etsako federal constituency in the house of representatives, as the winner of the primary.
Senator Monday Okpebholo from Edo central claimed he won the election by more than 6,000 votes in a surprising turn of events.
The national leadership of the APC announced on Tuesday that the primary election was inconclusive.
The party rescheduled the completion of the primary election process for Thursday, February 22, 2024.
Bassey Otu, the governor of Cross River State, was appointed as the chairman of the primary election committee by the party.
In a statement released by his media aide, Ahmad Sajoh, Fayemi accused Oshiomhole of removing Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State before the 2020 gubernatorial election.
The former Ekiti governor criticized Oshiomhole for not ensuring a fair competition among all candidates in 2024 and instead trying to impose a candidate.
“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.
“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,’’ Fayemi said.
