*Says date for primaries will be announced
*Copies security agencies, Edo APC, others
By Kemi Kasumu
In further exercisation of his powers as Acting National Chairman (ANC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Victor Giadom, has written a second letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) strongly informing the electoral umpire that there has been no governorship primary election scheduled to hold in Edo State on Monday June 22, 2020.
The INEC is allowed by the law to recognise and act on communications from national chairman of political parties. Earlier, such communications by Adams Oshiomhole had been nullified and voided by the Court of Appeal Abuja, which upheld March ruling of FCT Hugh Court suspending him as member and national chairman of the APC and specifically appointed Victor Giadom being the most senior in party hyrarchy as acting national secretary as at the time to take act as national chairman.
Chief Giadom has since notified the INEC on this latest development following his resumption at the party’s national Secretariat in Abuja.
In the second letter, dated Thursday June 18, 2020 boldly titled “No APC gubernatorial primary committee has been inaugurated for Edo State and no primaries planned for Monday June 22, 2020”, Chief Giadom said his leadership’s attention had been drawn to activities of some people including Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State to conduct party primaries in Edo State on Monday June 22.
He said neither was such plan or arrangement known to him or authorised by him as Acting National Chairman and such, that the INEC should not give its support or monitoring to them.
The letter addressed to the INEC Chairman said: “Reports reaching me is that some persons have perfected plans to conduct direct gubernatorial primaries for our great party in Edo State next week under the purported chairmanship of His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma on Monday, June 22, 2020.
“Kindly note that as the Acting Chairman of our party, I did not authorize such a committee, neither have I inaugurated one. The earlier announced date for the primaries that is June 22, 2020, has been postponed.
“You are therefore advised not to give any support to any such committee or to monitor any such primaries. A new date for the primaries would be communicated to you soonest. We regret the inconvenience this might cause your commission.
“A copy of this letter is being sent to the relevant law enforcement agencies and the Chairman of Edo State APC, Mr. Anselm Ojezua for their information and necessary actions,” Giadom said.
