Edo guber: Okpebholo’s declaration as APC candidate rape of democracy, says Afegbua

Kassim Afegbua, a former commissioner for information in Edo state, has denied reports that he and some aggrieved leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have accepted the candidature of Monday Okpebholo.

On February 23, Okpebholo, senator representing Edo central in the upper legislative chamber, was declared candidate of the APC for the September 21 governorship election in the state.

Bassey Otu, governor of Cross River and chairman of the APC supplementary primary election, made the declaration in Benin.

Otu said Okpebholo polled 12,433 votes to defeat 11 other aspirants in the contest.

However, on February 17, Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo who was the former chairman of the primary election committee, announced Dennis Idahosa, a member of the house of representatives, as the winner of the APC primary election.

Uzodinma’s primary poll was later declared inconclusive. 

Afegbua, who was also an aspirant, said he never attended any peace meeting where he and other party leaders pledged to support Okpebholo in the forthcoming governorship election.

Speaking with TheCable, Afegbua insisted that Idahosa won and should be recognised as the party’s governorship candidate.

“Nothing of such please. We never attended any peace meeting. Dennis Idahosa is in court because he won the primaries. It was a rape of democracy,” he said.