Edo APC nomination: Odubu, Ogiemwonyi, Airhiavbere, Edebiri endorse indirect primaries

Four aspirants of the All Progressives Congress appear to have endorsed indirect primary election mode for the Edo State governorship primaries scheduled for June 22, 2020.

It happened amid speculation that the National Working Committee of the party, granted a waiver to one of the aspirants, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and opted for direct primary method for the Governorship primaries.

Crack team Naija reports that the four contestants and members of the proscribed Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), are Mr Charles Airhiavbere, Chris Ogiemwonyi, Solomon Edebiri and the former deputy Governor of the State, Mr Pius Odubu.

A confidential source said the quartet decided to queue behind the incumbent Governor of the State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, following their disapproval for direct party primary mode being pursued by the national Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who had been mandated by the Lagos State godfather to deliver Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the the forthcoming party primaries in Edo State.

The source who was privy to a secret meeting which was attended by the four aspirants at a popular Guest house on Friday in Benin City, the State Capital told our Correspondent.

The four aspirants while at the meeting, according to the source,
raised serious concern over attempt by certain leaders of the party to circumvent established protocols in favour of unfit and unpopular aspirant in the contest in which they predicted might be decided outside the State.

According to him, “The four aspirants in question have been avoiding a meeting with Oshiomhole who had invited theme to Abuja. They have consistently refused to honour his invitation to coerce them to support direct party primaries ahead of the Governorship election in September 2020”.

The source stated Odubu had boasted that he will win the primary election because most of the delegates across the 192 Wards have decided to vote for him in the primaries.

He also revealed that the aspirants might issue a press statement expressing their disapproval for direct primaries next Week if the national leadership of APC fail to align with the submission of party leadership in the State led by Mr Aselm Ojezua and Governor Godwin Obaseki who is seeking re-election on the platform of APC next Week barring last minutes changes.