Edo APC moves to reconcile party, as Obaseki emerges as flagbearer for September 10 elections

The Edo State APC chapter has initiated moves to reconcile the party, after the emergence of Godwin Obaseki, as the party's Governorship Candidate for the September 10 polls, on Sunday.

Godwin Obaseki was declared winner of the primaries, by Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, having scored 1,618 votes to defeat his 11 opponents.

Those who participated in the primary included the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu; a former governor, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor, and a former Minister of State for Works, Chris Ogiemwonyi.

Others are Maj. Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (retd.), Kenneth Imasuagbon, Peter Esele, Tina Agbarha, Blessing Agbomere, Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula, Prof. Ebegue Amadasun and Austin Emuan.

His closest rival was Odubu, who came a distant second with 471 votes.

Imasuagbon and Ogiemwonyi had 247 and 137 to settle for third and fourth places, respectively.

Before the results were announced however, some aspirants including Odubu, stormed out of the venue of the primary in anger.

In a statement released by its Publicity Secretary, Godwin Erhahon on Sunday, the party assured the aspirants that it would reunite all rival groups that went into the primary, in order to ensure victory for the party in the September 10 governorship election.

The statement read: "We appeal to all aggrieved persons to forgive all pre-primary offences and cooperate as members of one family to mobilise voters for the APC in the forthcoming governorship election.

"The APC and its government in Edo State will strive to heal all wounds and pains, physical and emotional; that may have been sustained or felt during the battle for various aspirants towards the primaries.

"They should, therefore, humble themselves and appease those they may have offended as Obaseki is now the candidate of the party, no longer for any group."

Prior to the voting, the Katsina State Governor had urged the aspirants, their agents and the delegates, to see the primary as a family affair, as there would be no "loser."

The delegates who were drawn from the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, converged at the stadium for the primaries.

Governor Oshiomole who was also in attendance, had described the process as 'peaceful.'

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