Edo APC Primary: Youths Take Over Party Secretariat, Demand Sack Of State Executives

The All Progressives Congress Secretariat in Benin, Edo State, is currently occupied by outraged youths and women, calling for the removal of the state executives headed by acting Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, following the governorship primary election held on Saturday.

The poll produced three winners.

The primary’s Electoral Committee Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma, declared Dennis Idahosa as the winner, while the returning officer, Stanley Ugboaja, announced Monday Okpebholo as the victor.

Also, Ojo Babatunde, who claimed to be representing the returning officers in all the local governments, declared Anamero Dekeri the winner of the election.

The crowd, led by the party’s youth leader, Tony Adun, popularly known as Kabaka, forced their way into the offices and brought out pieces of furniture, bags of rice, and other equipment.

They vowed to occupy the building for seven days.

Adun said they were protesting against the conduct of the officials at Saturday’s primary election of the party, which threw up three winners, noting that it was obvious the executives worked against the party.

He vowed that they would not leave the premises until the exco was dissolved. They also said that they would cook, eat, and stay there for seven days.

Adun said, “It is clear that the party exco in the state is no longer working in the interest of the party so it is time for them to leave.

“We are here in solidarity with Dennis Idahosa, whom the party has nominated. We call on party members to back Idahosa’s candidacy in the governorship election in September.

“As you can see, we are here in large numbers, youths, and women, to show our displeasure over the way the exco handled the election.”