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Controversy on Saturday engulfed the House of Representatives primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in parts of Edo State, as parallel claims of victory emerged from Edo Central and Owan Federal Constituencies.
The development has sparked concerns over possible internal crisis within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections, despite assurances by the state leadership of the APC that the exercise was peaceful, transparent and credible across the state.
In the Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Federal Constituency, confusion trailed the conduct of the primary after two aspirants separately declared themselves winners of the exercise.
The incumbent member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Marcus Onobun, claimed victory, insisting that he emerged through a legitimate and duly recognized process.
However, a former commissioner and aspirant, Lucky Eseigbe, also announced himself as a winner, in what sources described as parallel primary elections conducted within the constituency.
The conflicting declarations created uncertainty among party members and supporters, with both camps insisting that they were in possession of authentic results of the exercise.
As of the time of filing this report, party officials had yet to officially clarify the situation, a development political observers warned could further widen divisions within the APC in Edo Central if urgently not addressed by the leadership of the party.
A similar situation was recorded in the Owan Federal Constituency, where the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, and another aspirant, Hon. Andrew Ijiegbai, both laid claim to the APC ticket.
Sources within the party disclosed that supporters of the two aspirants engaged in separate celebrations shortly after the exercise, with each camp insisting that its preferred candidate emerged victorious.
The emergence of parallel claims in the two constituencies contrasted sharply with outcomes recorded in other parts of the state, where the primaries were reportedly peaceful and winners clearly emerged.
In Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, Oladele Bankole-Balogun polled 3,368 votes to defeat Paul Afeghase, who secured 1,663 votes, while Adetutu Owolabi garnered 793 votes.
Similarly, in Etsako Federal Constituency, Hon. Anamero Dekeri, popularly known as Danco, emerged victorious after defeating four other aspirants.
Former Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, also clinched the APC ticket for Oredo Federal Constituency, while Hon. Omosede Igbinedion secured victory in Ovia Federal Constituency.
In Esan South-East/Esan North-East Federal Constituency, Hon. Odinose Okojie emerged as the APC candidate for the House of Representatives election.
In Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency, Igbinovia Felix Osazee was declared winner, defeating other aspirants in the election.
Reacting to the conduct of the exercise across the state, Edo State chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, described the primaries as the freest and fairest ever conducted by any political party in the state.
According to him, the exercise reflected the preparedness of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“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 stated.
Tenebe also expressed confidence that the party would remain united ahead of the general elections, even as efforts were being made to resolve disputes arising from the conduct of the primaries.
