Ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary poll for Edo State governorship on February 17, 2024, four candidates who were screened out by the Hon. Julius Ihonvbere-led committee said they accepted the screening results in good faith.
It was discovered that the party established the committee as an internal mechanism to filter and reduce the number of contenders to a tolerable level, as well as to assure a rancorous primary election.
Those that were screened out, and accepted the outcome, are Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Prince Kassim Afegbua, former commissioner for Information and Orientation.
Others are Mrs Victoria Amu and Hon. Victor Otaigbe Eboigbe.
In their separate reactions, they noted that no individual was bigger than the party.
They explained that since they subscribed to the setting up of the committee, they abide by its decisions.
In his statement to supporters, Afolabi said, “It’s with all sense of gratitude that I inform you all that the journey we started together has come to a temporary end last night.
“This is so because my great party, the APC, has zoned the governorship out of Edo North. It is still victory for us, as in less than three weeks, we made so much incursion into the political space of Edo State.
“We will definitely be rewarded in due time. Inform your groups, friends, and our fans, please.”
On his part, Eboigbe, an aspirant from Edo Central, in his statement titled, ‘Everyone can’t be governor at the same time’, urged his supporters to accept the outcome of the screening.
He noted that the decision of the party is more
According to The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the off-cycle governorship election in Edo State is scheduled for September 21, 2024.
