There is tension among members of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State over continued delay by the National body of the party to release results of the party primary for the senate especially in Edo South senatorial district.

The delay has caused a divide in the party even as Governor Monday Okpebholo is said to have begun a reconciliation move.

Three aspirants, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and incumbent Senator Neda Imasuen, contested at the primary for the Edo South seat.

At the end of the exercise, Chairman of the Edo Primary Election Committee headed by Kabiru Ajana, released results from the 77 Wards in Edo South. In the result, Ogbeide-Ihama scored 27,154, Senator Imasuen polled 13,580 votes while Pastor Ize-Iyamu got 6,785 votes.

But Pastor Ize-Iyamu took the lead in another result announced by Mohammadu Kabiru.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu got 33,399 votes, Ogbeide-Ihama scored 12,560 votes while Imasuen got 5,107 votes. Both Pastor Ize-Iyamu and Ogbeide-Ihama supporters are claiming victory.

A third result in which Senator Imasuen polled 33,700 votes to emerge winner has also been submitted to the party’s national leadership.

What heightened tension were comments by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, that efforts were still on to ensure 40 Senators got victories at the already concluded primary.

Senator Imasuen is believed to be among the 40 Senators. The quagmire in Edo South senatorial seats is rooted in the powers backing the three contestants.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu, according to sources, is backed by powerful elements in the presidency and in Edo State.

Ogbeide-Ihama is backed by Governor Okpebholo and the Edo APC leadership based on a supposed agreement between the Edo Peoples Democratic Party legacy group backed by Nyesom Wike while Akpabio is pushing for Senator Imasuen.

Some APC leaders, who spoke on anonymity, said the situation has placed the party in a confused position. The APC leaders predicted that a post-primary crisis within the party was inevitable after the winner of the election has been announced.

This prediction is premised on the assumption that the APC would be going into the primary with a divided house. They feared that the brickbats among supporters of the aspirants have caused mistrust.

They said Ogbeide-Ihama would be perceived as a candidate imposed by an outsider. During his visit to Edo South APC leaders at the residence of former Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, Ogbeide-Ihama urged the leaders to be proud that an outsider is supporting the best among the aspirants.

“There is no where help is not sought. I sought help from everywhere. Anywhere we get help is fine. If I go to get help from Nyesom Wike, it is a fine thing. An external person is coming to support one of your own, why do we have a problem with that.

“Nyesom Wike has helped Edo State political parties more than once. But he is not part of the process. I will seek help from everywhere. It is not a taboo to use external factors. People go to General Overseer to seek help,” he said.

Besides Edo South, the Edo APC primary is disputed in the Owan and the Esan West/Esan Central/Igeuben House of Representatives seats. House Leader, Prof. Julie’s Ihonvbere and former Commissioner for Mining, Andrew Ijegbai, are claiming victory in the Owan Federal Constituency seat.

Former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lucky Eseigbe, are also claiming victory for the Esan West/Esan Central/Igeuben seat.

A chieftain of the Edo APC, Dennis Eribo, in a telephone chat, hailed the APC NWC for embarking on investigation before releasing the result.

According to him, “The APC NWC has taken the bull by the horn. Their actions tell more about efficient party organisations. I must commend them because the whole thing was becoming like a mad house.

“Taking this decision will quel all rebellion and aggrieved party members as well as make sure they don’t take irrational decisions. I can assure you it is timely. Their action is within INEC guidelines.

“I can tell you everybody will be happy. People have been making calls and seeking enquiry. People are anxious and worried. They are looking at it from a negative perspective that they might do this to be able to shortchange some people. This was the right thing to be done

“There has been so much anxiety surrounding the primary election not just only in Edo but in other states. A lot of us were disappointed with the way the government interfered in party activities which was not in line with the party’s constitution. Instead of allowing everything to explode, the right decision to take was to hold onto the certificate and have time to investigate numerous allegations..

“Everybody is not going to be the winner. There will be lots of consultations and negotiations to allow all stakeholders to accept. The fear of the unknown may eventually catch up with the party. The essence is not to allow anyone to jump ship if they are not satisfied.”

On his part, Senator Imasuen urged his supporters to be patient.

“I am telling my supporters to be patient until the National Working Committee makes a position on it. It is clear that no results will be announced until the NWC declares the result.

“Whatever result out there is not authentic. They are not the result of the election. The result will be released by the NWC. Until that is done, I asked all of us to be patient.”

Governor Okpebholo and the Edo APC have begun moves to appease all aggrieved aspirants and their supporters.

A stakeholders meeting held at the Edo government House on Friday was shunned by some of the aggrieved aspirants.

The outcome of the Edo APC primary will determine how the party will fare in next year’s general election. (The Nation)