*Uzodinma-led committee properly constituted – Senator Buhari
*Edo APC will challenge primary in court – Ojezua
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has finally returned elected as governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.
The primaries held against the warning by court-installed Acting National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Giadom, who said any such exercise not authorized by him is invalid.
If the primaries held today scale through, Ize-Iyamu will slog it out with whoever emerges as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship torchbearer at the September 16, 2020 governorship election in the state.
Governor of Imo State and chairman of the primary election committee, Hope Uzodinma, declared Ize-Iyamu winner of the direct primary defeating Pius Odubu and Osaro Obazee
The APC primary held across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, in Monday, was said to be peaceful against fear that heralded the exercise.
According to a report credited to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which reportedly monitored the exercise, the voting process witnessed large turnout in the centres visited.
The three aspirants who stood for the election were former deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu; Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and Mr Osazee Obaze, the report said.
NAN reports that the Gov. Hope Uzodima-led primaries election committee ensured that APC’s card carrying members maintained the prescribed physical distancing of maximum 15 members, wearing face masks across the 192 wards of the 18 LGAs.
Some of the wards monitored were ward 3 in Egor LGA, Auchi ward 1 to 4 in Etsako West LGA, ward 7 in Etsako East LGA, Ohuan, Uhi and Isi North in Uhunmwonde LGA, Ward 3 in Egor LGA and Ward 9 in Oredo LGA.
NAN also observed the presence of INEC personnel monitoring the process with security personnel who stood guard from a distance.
Senator Ajibola Buhari, APC Oyo State, had earlier defended the primary ahead of time.
He said that the Senator Hope Uzodinma led panel was properly constituted and would be guided by the provisions of the APC constitution in carrying out its activities.
He also pledged that the process would keep to the strict restrictions on social distancing demanded by Governor Godwin Obaseki’s COVID-19 order.
But the Edo State chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC Barrister Anselm Ojezua had dissociated the party from the party’s governorship primary ahead of the exercise on Monday.
The chairman in an interview said the primary being organized by officials from Abuja is a tragicomedy which he vowed would not stand the test of law. He said the state chapter would file a court action to invalidate the outcome of the prirmary.
Speaking to Channels Television ahead of the primary, Ojezua said: “Adams Oshiomhole is effectively in suspension. He did not at the material time appeal the suspension. All these things happening in Abuja is like a tragicomedy.”
The APC chairman said whatever Uzordimma-led committee did on Monday was illegal.
“Number one, it is illegal. Number two, it is not our choice. Should they continue, it will be a nullity, we will go to court,” he vowed.
