Protests trail Edo APC LG primaries

BENIN—SUPPORTERS  of All Progressives Congress, APC, in  Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, led by Mr. Roland Edeki, yesterday, besieged the APC  secretariat in Benin City, following the conduct of parallel primaries in the council and demanded for justice.

 They alleged imposition of candidates for the March 3 council elections by some leaders against the wishes of the people. 

 During the parallel primaries in the council, two candidates, Victor Ohiosumuan and Andrew Osigbe emerged at the two different primaries held at Afuze and Warrake communities respectively.

 The protesters said the party primaries held at Warrake was illegal. Meanwhile, there was tension in Egor Local Government Area of the state, yesterday, after some persons led by one Efe Stewart, held leaders of the party hostage shortly after the leaders endorsed Eghe Ogbemudia as the chairmanship candidate of the party.

 Edo State Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo, had deployed a crack team of policemen to the area while men of the Department of State Security, DSS, who arrived the scene arrested the said Stewart and others and are currently in custody.

 Edeki, Aledu Bello and others, alleged: “We are here to protest the illegal primaries that were conducted by Edo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, in Owan East council. The primaries were to be conducted at a designated venue.

 What happened at the mini stadium in Afuze is the correct primaries but some people went to a private residence in Warrake to hold an illegal primary. “The party directed that the party should be conducted at the mini stadium. 

The only candidate that emerged from the primaries is Victor Ohiosuma. Any other person purported to have been elected is illegal.”  

Source: Vanguard
Photo credit: Ikpekhai Ohis