The All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State chapter finds itself embroiled in a crisis of legitimacy and credibility following the emergence of two winners in parallel governorship primaries on Saturday, February 17, 2024.
The Explainer gathered that the party’s primaries were marred by violence, confusion and controversy, as two factions of the party held separate and conflicting exercises at different venues in Benin, the state capital.
One faction, led by Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, declared House of Representatives member Dennis Idahosa, who represents Ovia Federal constituency, as the winner of the primary that was held at Protea Hotel in Benin. Uzodimma said Idahosa polled 40,453 votes to defeat Senator Monday Okpebholo, who represents Edo Central and scored 100 votes. The declaration was affirmed by the leader of the elected delegates, Charity Amayaenvbo, and seconded by Charles Oronsanye.
The other faction, led by Dr Stanley Ugboajah, the State Collation officer, declared Okpebholo as the winner of the primary that was held at Lushville Hotel and Suite GRA Benin. Ugboajah said Okpebholo emerged victorious with 12,145 votes, while Idahosa polled 5,536 votes. The declaration was made at the palatial residence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who was one of the aspirants but withdrew from the race on Friday.
 The parallel primaries were a result of the deep division and power struggle within the APC in Edo State, which has been brewing for a long time. The party has been split into two camps, one loyal to the former National Chairman of the APC, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, and the other loyal to the incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2020 after a bitter feud with Oshiomhole.
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The Uzodinma-led faction is rumoured to have the backing of Oshiomhole, who is speculated to be the political godfather of Idahosa and a major influence in the party’s affairs in the state.Â
However, The Ugboajah-led faction is rumoured to have the support of Ize-Iyamu, who is seen as a formidable opponent of Oshiomhole and a popular figure among the party’s grassroots.
The parallel primaries were also a reflection of the lack of consensus and coordination among the APC’s national leadership and the state’s working committee, who failed to agree on a single and credible process for the selection of the party’s candidate. The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had earlier constituted an “authentic” screening committee that cleared all 12 aspirants who purchased and completed the nomination forms. However, the state’s working committee had reportedly disqualified some aspirants, including Ize-Iyamu, on the grounds of irregularities and inconsistencies in their documents.
 The parallel primaries were further disrupted by violence and chaos, as armed thugs invaded Lushville Hotel and Suites, the initial collation centre, around 2:52 pm and attacked the collation officers, journalists and security operatives. They damaged property and injured several people during the invasion, which forced the Ugboajah-led faction to relocate to Ize-Iyamu’s residence. The thugs were allegedly sponsored by some of the aspirants who were unhappy with the outcome of the exercise.
The parallel primaries have cast a shadow of doubt and uncertainty over the APC’s chances of winning the governorship election, which is slated for September 2024. The party is now faced with the dilemma of choosing between two winners, who both claim to have the mandate and support of the party’s delegates and members. The party is also faced with the risk of losing some of its supporters and voters, who may be disillusioned and disenchanted by the party’s internal crisis and lack of unity.
 The parallel primaries have also given an advantage to the PDP and Governor Obaseki, who may capitalise on the APC’s disarray and present themselves as a better and more stable alternative to the electorate. The PDP and Obaseki have already expressed their confidence and readiness to retain power in the state, citing their achievements and performance in the areas of infrastructure, education, health, security and economy.
The parallel primaries have shown that the APC in Edo State is in a state of disarray and confusion, which could jeopardise its chances of winning the governorship election.
