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Ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday officially declared winners of its House of Representatives primary elections and presented certificates of return to successful candidates across the nine federal constituencies in Edo State.
Chairman of the party’s House of Representatives Primary Election Committee for Edo State, Muhammed Ajana, announced the results at the party’s state secretariat in Benin, describing the exercise as one of the freest and fairest primaries conducted by the APC.
Ajana said the committee ensured transparency and credibility in the conduct of the exercise by deploying officials directly to the various federal constituencies, rather than collating results from the state capital.
According to him, the process was peaceful, orderly and devoid of violence or manipulation, adding that Edo State had set a benchmark for subsequent primary elections across the country.
“We have seen Edo as a pace-setter for subsequent elections. The election was more or less like a carnival.
“We did not just sit in Benin and write names behind closed doors. Members of the electoral committee were sent to the field to conduct the primaries, and the grassroots elected their leaders in the nine federal constituencies”, he said
Following the announcement of the results, certificates of return were presented to the successful candidates.
Those declared winners included Paddy Iyamu for Oredo Federal Constituency, Omosede Igbinedion for Ovia Federal Constituency, Felix Osazee Igbinovia for Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency, and Billy Osawaru for Uhunmwonde/Orhionmwon Federal Constituency.
Others are Odianosen Okojie for Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency, Lucky Eseigbe for Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency, Oladele Bankole-Balogun for Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, Anamero Sunday Dekeri for Etsako Federal Constituency, and Andrew Ijegbai for Owan Federal Constituency.
Speaking shortly after the presentation of certificates, Edo State APC chairman, Jarret Tenebe, said the successful conduct of the primaries had justified the assurances earlier given by the party leadership that the exercise would be peaceful and transparent.
Tenebe noted that although some constituencies witnessed keen contests among aspirants, the process eventually produced candidates acceptable to party members across the state.
