UPDATE: UZODINMA HEADS PANEL TO CONDUCT EDO APC GOV PRIMARY
The governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has been named by the All Progressives Congress as the chairman of a seven-member committee that will hold the primary election on February 17 to choose the party’s nominee for governor of Edo State.
Sulaiman Argungu, the National Organising Secretary of the APC, revealed this in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday.
Argungu added that Bassey Otu, the governor of Cross River State, who was selected as the deputy chairman, will support Uzodinma.
He said, “Other members of the Primary Election Committee include former Osun State deputy governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; APC’s flagbearer in the Plateau State 2023 governorship election, Nentanwe Yilwatde Goshwe; Umar Musa; Lawan Garba and Rabiu Suleiman who will serve as the Secretary.”
“Other members include Muhammad Zakaria Sarina; Udogu Anthony Chijoke and Muhammad Garin Ali. The nominated members of Edo State National Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee and Election Appeal Committee will be inaugurated on Thursday, 15th of February, 2024 at the party’s National Working Committee Hall by 4 pm prompt,” the statement added.
The development comes four days after the leadership of the APC cleared all the 12 aspirants jostling for the sole party ticket to contest the September 22 Edo governorship election.
The successful aspirants were immediate past State Chairman of APC, Gideon Ikhine; ex-Minister of State, National Economic Planning, Clem Agba; former Edo Governor, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor; senator representing Edo Central, Monday Okpebholo; erstwhile deputy governor, Lucky Imasuen; former governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and lawmaker representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Anamero Dekeri.
Others are ex-Zonal Organising Secretary for South-South, Blessing Agbohmere; House of Representatives member, Dennis Idahosa, former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe; Col. David Imuse and Major General Charles Airhiavbere (retd).