The senator received his certificate at the APC National Secretariat on Saturday, after a week of intense competition where three candidates had initially emerged as winners.
A post shared on the party’s X page on Saturday said, “Winner of the Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election, Senator Monday Okpebholo on Saturday received the Party’s Certificate of Return from the National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, accompanied by other members of the National Working Committee at the National Secretariat.”
THE WHISTLER reported that Okpebholo was declared the winner of APC primary election on Friday following the completion of the exercise.
Advertisement
The Chairman of the revised APC Edo gubernatorial election committee and Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, declared Okpebholo as the winner in Benin, Edo State.
Otu’s declaration aligned with the earlier pronouncement of the Returning Officer for the election, Stanley Ugboaja, that Okpebholo scored the highest number of lawful votes.
The former chairman of the committee and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, had initially declared Dennis Idahosa – the anointed candidate of Senator Adams Oshiomhole – as the winner of the poll.
Uzodinma’s declaration that Idahosa polled 40,483 votes to defeat nine other contestants had caused rancour among party members and stakeholders.
The party subsequently annulled Uzodinma’s announcement and declared the process inconclusive.
The Imo state governor was eventually removed as chairman and his deputy, Governor Otu, was appointed to complete the exercise.
Declaring the results on Friday, Otu said a total number of 41,784 votes were cast in the primary with Okpebholo scoring 12, 433 votes to defeat the other eleven aspirants.
According to the result called out by Governor Otu, Dr Blessing A. scored 731 votes; Gerald Charles 1,181 votes; Senator O.O Osunbor 634 votes; Col. David Imose 423 votes; Senator Monday Okpebholo 12,433 votes.
Others are Hon. Dennis Idahosa with 6,541 votes, Everest Afolabi 2,117 votes, Gideon O. Ikhanire 720 votes, Pastor Ize-Iyamu 378 votes, Amero Sunday 2,562 votes, Agba Clement 2,732 votes, and Lucky Imasuen with 493 votes.
Okpebholo will be the party’s candidate during the September 21, 2024 governorship election.