Oyegun Boycot APC Guber Primary, As Election Conducted Under Tight Security By Lola Seriki- Idahosa

National Chairman of All Progressive Congress John Odigie Oyegun, was
absent during  the gubernatorial primary of the All Progressives
Congress in Edo State.

Voting commenced following the arrival of the Alhaji Aminu Masari-led
committee at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, venue of the
exercise.

The committee arrived at the venue about 5pm, amid tight security
provided by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State
Security and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps,Corps, who
also cordoned off both ends of Stadium road.


Masari, who is also the Governor of Katsina State, immediately went on
an inspection of the various materials, including the ballot boxes, to
be in the exercise.

The Katsina governor said that a total of 2,582 delegates were
accredited to participate in the primary to elect the candidate of the
ruling APC in the September 10 governorship polls.

He explained that voting would be done by thumb-printing on the ballot
paper bearing the images of the 12 aspirants, adding that the
delegates were expected to append their thumb prints on the paper
bearing the image of their preferred candidate.

He, however, urged the aspirants, their agents and the delegates to
see the primary as a family affair, as there would be no “loser”.

Masari said, “The aspirants ar‎e 12 in number; out of the 12, one of
them must emerge as the candidate. If he emerges, he will need the
other 11 for him to face the general election.

“So, there is no loser in this contest. We consider all of you that
are participating as winners.”‎

‎The aspirants, who were screened and cleared by the national
secretariat of the party, include the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu;
the head of the state economic team, Godwin Obaseki ; a former
governor, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, and a fomer Minister of State
for Works, Chris Ogiemwonyi.

Others are Maj-Gen Charles Airhiavbere (retd.), Ken Imasuagbon, Peter
Esele, ‎Tina Agbarha, Blessing Agbomere, Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula,
Professor Ebegue Amadasun and Austin Emuan.‎

Voting commenced at about 6pm, with the statutory delegates led by the
State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who described the process as
peaceful and in line with the democratic ideals of the APC

‎Other delegates later cast their vote according to their respective
local government areas.