Why we replaced Uzodimma as Edo primary election chair – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has explained that it didn’t sack the Imo State governor as chairman of the Edo State primary election committee as reported in some media outlets but replaced him because he was “unavoidably unavailable” to lead the completion of the exercise on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, the APC national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, said Uzodinma was to be unavailable due to his prior schedule and presentation of a report to the National Economic Council meeting yesterday.

He also dispelled claims that party officials received bribes to compromise last Saturday’s primary election in Edo State.

Recall that the APC primary election held last week produced three candidates—Dennis Idahosa, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Anamero Sunday Dekeri—for the September 21governorship election in the state, which triggered calls for Uzodinma’s sack ahead of yesterday’s primary election.

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Following the controversy, the NWC held an emergency meeting on Tuesday night in Abuja, where it was resolved that a fresh primary would be conducted yesterday.

Morka said, “We wish to clarify that Governor Uzodinma was neither ‘sacked’ nor ‘dropped’, as has been erroneously reported, but was unavoidably unavailable to lead the completion of the party’s Edo State gubernatorial primary election process due to his prior scheduled attendance of, and presentation of a report at the National Economic Council meeting today, February 22, 2024.

“As a result, His Excellency Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross River State, who was the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, graciously accepted to serve as chairman and to complete the Edo State gubernatorial primary election process.”

Meanwhile, Governor Otu, after meeting with party stakeholders on Thursday at the Lushville Hotel in Benin City, said the fresh primary election would go ahead as scheduled. But as of the time of filing this report, the exercise had not been completed.