In deference to the stance of the All Progressives Congress National Working Committee, certain aspirants seeking the party ticket ahead of the September governorship election in Edo State have picked Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.
Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that eight aspirants have so far picked up the forms. The list includes former Minister of Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba; former governorship candidate, Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu; and former governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, General Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd).
Others are Monday Okpebholo, Hon. Lucky Imasuen, Hon. Anamero Dekeri, Gideon Ikhine, and Col. David Onabure Imuse.
Nigerian Tribune reported in an investigation that a committee set up at the instance of the former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, and led by Professor Julius Ihonvbere had pruned the list of aspirants to six.
Those who made the Ihonvbere list before it was later pruned to four included Ernest Umakhihe (Owan East LGA), Clem Agba (Etsako East LGA), Lucky Imasuen (Ovia North East LGA), Dennis Idahosa (Ovia South West LGA), David Imuse (Esan West LGA), and Monday Okpebholo (Esan Central LGA).
The primary to produce the party candidate will be held on February 3.
Addressing journalists at the party national secretariat shortly after picking the forms, Honourable Emmanuel Momoh, who led a Committee of Friends, said their preferred choice would not subordinate himself to the outcome of the Professor Ihonvbere panel, which he noted was at the instance of Comrade Oshiomhole.
He also said that Professor Ihonvbere’s team was not a creation of the APC National Working Committee and therefore negates provisions of the Party Constitution.
He said, “He is not among the anointed; it is only God that anoints. Let me make it clear to every Nigerian that what was done does not reflect the constitution of the APC.”
“The committee that was set up is not the organ of the APC; there was nothing done; it was an action of one man who is a voter like me.
“No single voter has the right to anoint a candidate; we are all members of the APC, and we stand on the fact that it is today that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu officially presents himself to the party as an aspirant, an intending candidate of the party, and the process begins today.
“If you look at the calendar of APC, the issue of somebody being anointed does not hold water, and we want to let you know that he is going ahead with the race, and whatever has been done can be considered a sham and is not in line with the direction of the National Working Committee of the party.”
Colonel Imuse, in his interaction with journalists, said that if given the ticket, he has the capacity to dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party and ultimately develop the south-south state.
“Primary is purely party affairs; we have contributed our quota to the growth of this party; the next stage is the governance of Edo.
“For those of you from Edo State, you know that in the last eight years, in spite of our great human and material resources, the government of the state headed by Obaseki has not been able to fulfil the legitimate expectations of our people. Edo has been left to drift.
“Edo is bleeding; Edo is in a coma in a state of severe haemorrhage; the state needed to be rescued; we need to reset Edo state.
“Today, my purchase of this form is a clear demonstration of my commitment to resetting Edo State; it is my commitment to rescue our people from the deadly fangs of the political predators and vampires that presently occupy the state government house on Osadebe Avenue.
“We have come so that there will be a paradigm shift from politics of greed, politics of deceit, politics of self-immolation, and politics of self-aggrandizement to more pragmatic, purposeful, and result-oriented governance that we can bequeath as a legacy to our children and our children’s children. We have come to serve; we have not come to play.”