The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, alongside Governor Monday Okpebholo, tightened its grip on the party structure on Saturday as preferred aspirants emerged victorious in the House of Representatives primary elections conducted across the state’s 18 local government areas.
The exercise, which party officials described as peaceful and well-coordinated, produced candidates believed to have enjoyed the backing of the state leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Findings across several federal constituencies indicated that most of the aspirants favoured by the party hierarchy secured convincing victories over their opponents, further consolidating the influence of the APC leadership within the state.
In Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, Oladele Bankole-Balogun emerged victorious after polling 3,368 votes to defeat Paul Afeghase, who scored 1,663 votes, and Adetutu Owolabi, who garnered 793 votes.
Declaring the result, the Returning Officer, Kassim Otono, said the process was peaceful and devoid of disruption.
“I am moving round monitoring the exercise. Everywhere is calm; we do not have any issues at all. We will have a peaceful exercise and the results will be declared,” he stated.
Also speaking on the exercise, the APC chairman in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Mr Monday Oseh, commended party members for their orderly conduct, saying the party’s preferred aspirant emerged successfully.
In Etsako Federal Constituency, Hon. Anamero Dekeri, popularly known as Danco, was declared winner after defeating four other aspirants in the contest.
His aide, Embassy Momodu, confirmed the development, saying the lawmaker had secured the party’s ticket for the 2027 House of Representatives election.
In Oredo Federal Constituency, former Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, clinched the APC ticket, while incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, emerged as the party’s candidate for Ovia Federal Constituency.
In Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency, Igbinovia Felix Osazee was declared winner, defeating other aspirants in the election.
Reacting to the outcome of the exercise, Edo State APC chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, described the primary as the freest and fairest ever conducted by any political party in the state.
According to him, the conduct of the exercise reflected the level of preparedness of the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
“A few days ago, we issued a statement directing all card-carrying members of the party to participate in the exercise.
“The exercise has been free so far. It tells you how prepared the APC is for the 2027 elections.
“We are putting forward our first eleven for the House of Representatives, and we will repeat the same process in all other primaries,” he said.
Tenebe added that the successful conduct of the primaries had strengthened the party’s confidence in delivering massive votes for President Bola Tinubu in the next presidential election.
“We are determined to ensure that our promised 2.5 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in 2027 is realised,” he declared.
Meanwhile, controversy reportedly trailed the primary election in Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Federal Constituency, as two aspirants allegedly laid claim to the APC ticket.
While the incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Marcus Onobun, claimed victory in the primary election, former Commissioner, Lucky Eseigbe, also declared himself winner in what appeared to be parallel primary exercises conducted in the constituency.
A similar situation was reported in Owan Federal Constituency, where the incumbent Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, and Hon. Jimoh Ijiegba both laid claim to the party’s ticket.
Political observers believe the development, if not properly managed by the party leadership, could trigger internal disputes ahead of the general elections.
