By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The coast is now very clear for the former Ovia Federal Constituency House of Representatives member, Hon Omosede Igbinedion, to return to the House of Representatives as she emerged winner of the primary election and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the constituency ahead of the August 16 INEC-scheduled bye-election.
The chairman of the primary in the federal constituency, Barr Lucky Ajokperiniovo, who announced the final results of the primary conducted in 23 wards that make up the constituency, declared Igbinedion the sole candidate for the primary winner, having polled a total vote of 5,819.
“With this aggregate score in the two council areas, Omosede Igbinedion is hereby announced as the winner of the primary and the party’s candidate for the bye-election,” he stated.
Recall that the Ovia Federal Constituency seat became vacant following the election of the former holder, Dennis Idahosa, as the deputy governor of the state.
Igbinedion, then a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was the occupant of the Ovia Federal Constituency seat in the 8th Assembly. She was defeated by Idahosa while seeking re-election in the 2019 general election.
Responding to questions from journalists during the conduct of the primary, Edo State deputy governor, Hon Dennis Idahosa, said the All Progressives Congress is a party whose internal workings and decisions are guided by its constitution and rules, explaining that the ruling party operates within the bounds of Nigerian law and respects democratic principles.
The deputy governor, while commending the people for their peaceful disposition during the primary, expressed excitement that true internal democracy was at play for the primary.
Shortly after casting his vote at Iguobazuwa West, Ward 2, Idahosa declared that “APC is a leadership-driven political party” and said the exercise was peaceful and well-coordinated in all the wards visited by him.
“This is my ward, Iguobazuwa West Ward 2. Voting here was impressive as a mammoth crowd endorsed Omosede.
“We await results of the 23 wards that make up Ovia Federal Constituency, which consists of the two Ovia local governments,” Idahosa added and declared that the conduct of the primary marked a benchmark in Ovia federal electioneering process based on the voluntary withdrawal of other aspirants to make way for the emergence of Omosede as the sole candidate.
This stand, he noted, was based on the fact that Igbinedion, a former member of the Green Chamber, stood a good chance with present political data showing a shortfall of the female gender in the political terrain.
“This brought up the need for gender inclusiveness, as there are presently no female candidates representing Edo State at the National Assembly,” he stated.
Similarly, a member of the party’s national electoral committee, Jafaru Leko, declared that the process was “smooth, organised, and credible”.
