Ahead of the February 17 Edo state governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), eight aspirants have so far picked the expression of interest and nomination forms for the party’s ticket.
The sales of the form, which started on January 11, are expected to close by January 29, 2024.
Stakeholders and some leaders of the party in the state, through Prof. Julius Ihonvbere’s screening committee at the weekend, trimmed down the number of aspirants from 29 to six and later to four after conducting a screening exercise.
However, NewMailNG learned that the decision of the Ihonvbere was opposed by many of the screened-out aspirants.
Checks at the directorate of organisation of the party in Abuja on Wednesday, January 24, showed that eight aspirants had purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms.
The aspirants include former Minister of State Prince Clem Agba, Hon. Monday Okpebholo, Hon. Lucky Imasuen, Hon. Anamero Dekeri, APC 2019 governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu, Gideon Ikhine, Col. David Onabure Imuse and Major. General Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd).
The immediate past Edo state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Col. (Dr.) David Imuse, picked up the party’s nomination form on Wednesday with a promise to revive the state from a doldrum of maladministration.
Imuse who is one of the four aspirants cleared by the Ihonvbere screening committee, was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Uwa-Oshodi Imuse to pick up the N50 million expression of interest and nomination forms ahead of the February 17 party primary.
Speaking with newsmen after picking up the form, the former APC state chairman said, “Today my purchase of this form is a clear demonstration of my commitment to resetting Edo State. It is my commitment to rescue our people from the deadly fangs of the political predators and vampires that presently occupy the state government house on Osadebe Avenue.
“We have come so that there will be a paradigm shift from politics of greed, politics of deceit, politics of self-emulation, and politics of self-aggrandizement to a more pragmatic, purposeful, and result-oriented governance that we can quit as a legacy to our children and our children’s children. We have come to serve; we have not gone to play.
“Today, is it a hospital? The health services are grounded, education is in a comatose state, the roads and infrastructure are in rural development, and the legacies of Edo State have been destroyed.
“David Imuse has come to change the narratives. When God gives you power, He is not doing it for fun; He does it for two reasons.”He gives you responsibility and then privileges; if you carry all your responsibilities very well, God will give you your privileges unencumbered.”
In the same vein, Hon. Emmanuel Momoh, who led the Committee of Friends of Pastor Ize-Iyamu picked expressions and the nomination form for the APC 2018 governorship candidate.
Addressing newsmen at the party secretariat after purchasing Ize-Iyamu’s forms, the leader of the team said their aspirant was not in any way disturbed by the outcome of the Ihonvbere Committee, which screened him out of the adopted aspirants.
Asked to react to his principal’s inability to make the last four, Momoh said, “That he (Ize-Iyamu) is not among the anointed; it is only God that anoints. Let me make it clear to every Nigerian that what was done is not reflected in the constitution of the APC.
“The committee that was set up is not the organ of the APC; there was nothing done; it was the action of one man who is a voter like me.
“No single voter has the right to anoint a candidate; we are all members of the APC, and we stand on the fact that it is today that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu officially presents himself to the party as an aspirant, an intending candidate of the party, and the process begins today.
“If you look at the calendar of APC, the issue of somebody being anointed does not hold water, and we want to let you know that he is going ahead with the race, and whatever has been done can be considered a sham and is not in line with the direction of the National Working Committee of the party.”
General Charles Airhiavbere, the spokesman of his campaign council, Hon. Daniel Ighile said the retired military tactician is in the race to redeem the state from further decay inflicted on it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration of Godwin Obaseki.
Charles Nwala, APC south-south zonal coordinator, spoke of all the aspirants parading themselves for the government house in Osadebe Avenue, Benin.
According to him, “Gen. Airhiavabere is the only aspirant who can turn the fortunes of Edo State around. He has the Midas touch to change the narratives in Edo State.”