APC is conducting its primary election for the forthcoming governorship poll in Edo State

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is conducting its primary election for the forthcoming governorship poll in Edo State.

This comes amid the lingering crisis in the party which led to the suspension of the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and the exit of the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki, from the party.

The Secretary of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, Ajibola Bashiru, told Channels Television on Sunday that nothing would stop the election from holding on Monday.

Bashiru, who was a guest on Sunday Politics, said, “We are set to conduct primary in Edo State. We have met with the leadership of the state. We have appointed presiding officers in line with the guidelines of the party at local government and ward levels.”

According to him, the exercise will commence by 8am at all 192 wards in 18 local government areas of the state.

The party is conducting the exercise despite the warning by the state government that the APC must apply for a waiver before organising a political gathering in any part of the state, as it battles the spread of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Benin City had fixed June 22 to decide on the mode of primary to be used by the party for the exercise.

The APC screening committee for the primary election had disqualified the governor and two other candidates, saying Obaseki was declared unfit to participate in the exercise because of his “defective certificates”.

In his reaction, Governor Obaseki rejected the committee’s decision and accused his predecessor of frustrating his effort of seeking re-election.

Oshiomhole, however, denied the allegation and explained that the party was only trying to ensure the best candidate was fielded in the September 19 election.