TEXT OF A PRESS RELEASE ON BEHALF OF CONCERNED APC STAKEHOLDERS IN EDO STATE ON THE 17TH FEBRUARY, 2024 ON THE 2024 EDO APC PRIMARIES

PROTOCOLS.

We make this statement on behalf of Concerned Edo APC Stakeholders.
It was Thomas Paine , the American Nationalist that succinctly captured the essence of Democracy thus :

“In a Monarchy the King is the law , in a Democracy , the Law is the King”.

It is with these immortal words that we state the true state of affairs on the 17th February , 2024 All Progressives Governorship Primaries in Edo State , as follows:

1.That the INEC approved venue for the 17th February, 2024 APC Primaries in Edo State is Lushville Hotel, Gapiona Avenue , GRA., Benin City and no other place.This Venue is known to all participants in the Primaries and Protea Hotel , Benin City, is not a venue on record known to INEC.Any activity that purportedly took place at Proteal Hotel, Benin City on the issue of the announcement of the APC Primaries in Edo State is nullity .

2.That the only recognized and recognizable Chief Returning Officer for the Edo 2024 Governorship Primaries appointed by the APC National Working Committee is Stanley Uzomaka Ugboaja Phd .Gov. Hope Uzodinma was only a ceremonial Chairman of the process and it does not behove on him to declare the results .Dr. Ugboaja declared the results as required by law and we are afraid that if any other candidate not declared by the Officer required by law is presented to INEC , the All Progressives Congress may not have a Candidate for the Edo 2024 Governorship Elections .This is because the process of the election of candidates are very technical and specific .Any Slip that is generated by Political expediency shall cost the APC dearly.This is the experience gleaned from judicial precedence on the score.There is a Plethora of authorities , which are extant on this issue.

4.That the only Result that was collated in the duly authorized APC Result Sheet is that which declared Senator Sunday Okpeholo , as the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Edo 2024 Gubernatorial Elections .The Sheet used to do whatever was done concerning Dennis Idahosa was done on a plain sheet of paper.

5. That the purported exercise that purportedly produced Hon Dennis idahosa , can not stand the rigours of the Court process , as the votes cast by the purported voters were more than the number of accredited voters at the primaries.

6.That the only exercise observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as provided for by Electoral Act, 2020 , was the Exercise that produced Senator Monday Okpeholo as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and INEC inserted its imprimatur in the Results sheets which was issued in the official APC Result Sheets, as opposed to the one handed over to Hope Uzodinma for announcement by Hon Dennis Idahosa ‘s Chief campaign Manager .There was no Collation and transmission process in the purported Dennis Idahosa Announcement , as the purported announcement was an arrangement of friends, not following the process provided for by the Electoral Act.


7.That a Primary Election is a Process regulated by the Electoral Act , 2020 and not the whims and caprices of some power merchants and the only Primaries that followed the Process provided for by the Electoral Act, 2020 and the All Progressives Congress Constitution is the one that produced Senator Monday Okpeholo , who is the APC Governorship Candidate for Edo State.

8.That Governor Hope Uzodinma was not around all through the processes of the Organisation of the Primaries and he only showed up to announce false results late , when he is not the Chief returning Officer, as provided for by the APC Constitution.The action Gov Hope Uzodinma took in announcing a false result was ultra vires his powers, as announcement of results , is not within his job description , as provided for by the APC Constitution.


9.That there is only one APC in Edo State and in Nigeria and the all members of the State Working Committee are united in justice to ensure that the person who was duly elected by the All Progress Congress at its Primaries -Senator Monday Okpeholo , is sent to INEC as required by law .

10. That APC currently are in the bad books of the Nigerian Union of journalists in Edo State , due to the britalisation of their members , who were invidiously attacked by promoters of the usupers and the only way to assuage their grievances is to ensure that the usurper does not steal the mandate of the people.This is a test case on the Integrity of APC in Nigeria , as a whole and it is an opportunity for the APC to redeem itself , as Nigerians are watching with keen interest.Posterity beckons on us all.

We wish to state with untainted equanimity , that any other candidate being taunted about as a purported Candidate of the APC for the Edo 2024 Governorshp Elections , aside the duly returned Candidate -Senator Monday Okpeholo , presupposes that APC does not have a Candidate in Edo State .It means that APC will be given the Rivers State and Zamfara States Treatments , which unfortunately are tied to the antics of the same man that is behind this charade , being attempted in Edo State.It was Mark Twain the American Writer that said “History does not repeat itself , at best it rhymes “.

We humbly and passionately call on the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria , His Excellency , President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress , H.E. Abdulahi Ganduje to do the right thing and endorse the legally retuned Candidate as provided by the APC Constitution. We do not want the Banani Scenario as it was in Adamawa State, where the election was voided because the Returning Officer’s duties was hijacked by the Resident Electoral Officer , who is currently being Prosecuted.


The President of Nigeria -His Excellency , President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is an apostle of due process and rule of law .We use this medium to call His Excellency’s attention to the issues above , being very positive that Mr. President will uphold the Rule of law in this matter .Mr. President has been supportive of the APC in Edo State and if indeed Mr. President wants APC in Edo to win Edo State in the Governorship Elections in September , the President must push for justice in this matter.The major political stakeholders in Edo State are united behind Senator Monday Okpebholo .You do not go to war with out your generals and your infantry , you will be doomed to fail.


It was the 1st republic Nigerian Nationalist-Chief K.O Mbadiwe that said “When the come, comes to becomes , what becomes of the come”.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria , Long Live Edo State , Long Live the All Progressives Congress .

Signed

Douglas Ogbankwa

Counsel To The Concerned APC Stakeholders