The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly primaries in Edo State, saying the polls were unauthorised.
Mr. Yekini Nabena, APC acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, is the immediate past governor of the South-South.
It is believed he is at loggerheads with his successor, Godwin Obaseki.
Nabena said in the statement: “The exercise conducted by unauthorised persons in collaboration with the party’s Edo State Working Committee is hereby null and void.
“A primary election committee under the chairmanship of Hajia Farida Odangi Suleiman will be in Edo State later today (Thursday) to conduct the primaries into the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly,” Nabena said.
He added that the committee would make available the list of aspirants screened for the exercise and would conduct a transparent primary election in accordance with the guidelines and Constitution of the APC.
The APC spokesman advised all members of the party in the state to cooperate with the committee to ensure an orderly, peaceful, transparent and credible exercise.
The directive came after former House of Representatives member, Patrick Obahiagbon, APC Edo South Senatorial candidate at the party primaries held on Thursday in Benin.
The primaries, which held in the three senatorial districts, also returned Ehiozuwa Agbonayima, incumbent House of Representatives member representing Ikpoba-Okha and Egor Federal constituency as candidates.
Serving House member, Henry Okhuarobo, was retuned unopposed as the party’s candidate to represent Ikpoba-Okha constituency in the House of Assembly.
Mr Christopher Okaeben, incumbent member representing Oredo West was returned unopposed, a serving House of Assembly member, Mr Osaigbovo Iyoha, emerged as the candidate for the House of Representatives, Oredo Federal Constituency.
However, at the Egor Local Government Party Secretariat, the Chairman, Mr Olaye Odion, refused to allow some journalists monitor the exercise.
Odion said he was acting on instructions from above to allow only specific media organisations monitor the exercise.
