Confusion trailed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election as two candidates emerged for the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is also the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee, announced Dennis Idahosa, with 40, 453 votes, as the winner of the governorship primary held at Protea Hotel, while the returning officer, Stanley Ugboaja declared Monday Okpebholo winner with 12,145 at Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s residence.

While Ugboaja and other officers were announcing the results at Lushville, suspected political thugs disrupted the announcement of results with Okpebholo in the lead after the results of eight local government areas were announced.

Four people were also injured in the process while journalists also scampered for safety after they were alerted of the attack.

Before journalists could gather their things together, the thugs swooped on the venue after overpowering police operatives at the gate.

Several journalists, including an NTA cameraman and an FRCN reporter, were manhandled and their equipment were damaged.

The presence of the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adeboye, did not deter the hoodlums from engaging in the free-for-all.

Also, three people were injured as the thugs were hell-bent on attacking everybody, ordering delegates and others to vacate the venue.

While declaring the result, Uzodimma said that there was a mix-up as to where the secretariat of the committee was, noting that the Protea Hotel and not the Lushville Hotel where results were announced earlier on Saturday was the authentic secretariat.

He said, “There was misinformation as regards the venue of the primary. This is the secretariat where results were collated and would be announced.”

“Of the 12 aspirants that contested this primary, Clem Agba scored 100 votes, Senator Monday Okpepholo, 100; Drkeri Anamero, 230; Gideon Ikhine, 700 votes.

“David Imuse got 400 votes; Charles Airhavebere, 163 votes; Prof Osareime Osunbor, 180 votes; Dr Blessing Agbomere, 50 votes; Denise Idahosa, 40,453 votes, Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, two votes; Lucky Imasuen and Pastor Ize-Iyamu scored two votes respectively.

“Therefore, Denise Idahosa, having scored the highest votes cast, is hereby declared winner of the primary and returned as the candidate of the party.”

However, Ugboaja said he was the right person to announce the result while declaring Okpebholo the winner.

“I am the right person to declare the results of this primary election but unfortunately, I was not allowed to finish the announcement. We will continue the announcement here (Ize-Iyamu residence).

“Having scored the highest number of votes, I hereby declare Senator Okpebholo the winner of the election,” he added.

However, Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Uwadiae, described the announcement by Uzodimma as illegal and urged the party hierarchy and APC members to disregard Uzodimma’s action.

Meanwhile, one of the aspirants in Saturday’s APC governorship primary, Col. David Imuse (retd.) has congratulated Dennis Idahosa for emerging as the party’s flag bearer.

In a statement on Saturday, Imuse said, “I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you, Dennis Idahosa, on your emergence as our party flag bearer.

“This triumph signifies a promising future not only for our esteemed party, the APC but also for the well-being of our beloved Edo State. Your emergence as the flag bearer reflects the confidence and support you’ve garnered within the party.”

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The election conducted by the Uzodimma group was marred by disruption from suspected thugs who stormed the results collation venue in the GRA area of Edo State.

They threw away chairs and cameras mounted by journalists, a development that saw APC officials and pressmen scampering for safety.

The drama forced the election officials to change the venue of the collation exercise.

However, Governor Uzodimma explained that there was a mixup about the collation venue, maintaining that his declaration of Idahosa as the winner of the election was done in the right venue.

Also, the APC has distanced itself from the parallel primary and endorsed the election conducted by the Uzodimma-led group.

“We wish to state categorically that only the Governor Hope Uzodinma-Led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee is duly authorised to undertake the final collation and announcement of results of the Primary Election in the State,” the party’s national spokesman Felix Morka said.

“We urge all party members, officials in the State, and the general public to disregard the said announcement of results by these unauthorized persons.”

Saturday’s election was the culmination of activities that saw the clearing of 12 candidates for the election. But the party’s flagbearer in the 2020 governorship election Osagie Ize-Iyamu pulled out of this year’s primary poll on the eve of the exercise.