By Mercy Akuba
Confusion has trailed the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo South Senatorial Districts following conflicting declaration from parallel electoral committee over the outcome of the party’s primary election held on Monday.
One faction of the electoral committee led by Mohammed Ajana, announced former House of Representative member, Hon. Omorogie Ogbeide -Ihama as winner of the exercise after collating results from the seven local government areas of the district.
Announcing the results at Urhokpota hall in Benin City,Ajana said Ogbeide -Ihama secured 27,154 votes to defeat Pastor Osagie Ize – Ize-Iyamu, who pulled 6,785 votes while incumbent Senator Neda Immasue garnered 13,580 votes.
Ajana explained that the results were collated ward by ward across the Senatorial Districts, would be forwarded to the APC national Secretariat for ratification and official declaration.
According to the breakdown released by the committee, Ogbeide -Ihama reportedly won in all seven local government areas, including Oredo, Ikpoba Oha,Egor,Orhionmwon,Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Uhunmwonde.
However, in a dramatic twist, another electoral panel headed by Chief Returning officers, Abubakar Muhammed Kabiru declared Pastor Osagie Ize -Iyamu as winner of the same primary election.
Kabiru announced that Ize-Iyamu polled 33,399 votes to emerge victorious, while Ogbeide -Ihama scored 12,560 votes and Senator Neda Immasue scored 5,107 votes.
The emergence of parallel results has thrown the Edo South APC Senatorial primary election into uncertainty with party faithfuls and political observers awaiting clarification from the national leadership of the APC on the authentic outcome of the exercise.
Supporters of both aspirants were seen celebrating their respective declarations, while security personnel maintained order at various collations centers across the district.
The primary election reportedly witnessed impressive turnout across the 77wards in the seven local government areas that make up Edo South Senatorial Districts, with officials of the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitoring the process