*Stakeholders fear Uzodimma plans to announce Senator Okpebholo and leave Benin hurriedly
Thousands of voters in 18 local government areas and spread over 192 wards in Edo State are stranded and cannot vote in the primaries.
As of 12 noon, all APC election committee members who should conduct the elections had been told to remain in Benin based on Hope Uzodinma’s instructions.
Across the state, no election is taking place as no materials have been deployed and officials have not been allowed to travel to their stations.
Over 50,000 voters are right now being disenfranchised.
Meanwhile, fake results are flying around on the social media allocating fake numbers to candidates.
Reports have it that some APC leaders have the result written and will announce it shortly.
Observers complained about the flagrant disregard for democracy and the rights of voters, describing the development as unacceptable.
They insisted that the people of Edo State deserved a free, fair, and transparent electoral process, adding it was deeply disappointing to see such blatant disregard for the democratic process.
One of them said: “The APC leadership must take immediate action to rectify this situation and ensure that the primary elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner. Anything short of this would be a betrayal of the trust of the people of Edo State and a mockery of democracy.
“We call on all relevant authorities to investigate these serious allegations of misconduct and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
Menwhile, there are fears that the Chair of the Primary Election Committee and Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma is planning to declare one of the aspirants, Senator Monday Okpebholo, as winner of the exercise in spite of the monumental glitches and run out of Benin immediately thereafter.
