With Monday’s deadline coming to pass, 12 aspirants have picked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) expression of interest and nomination forms for the Edo governorship ticket.
In other words the APC generated N600 million from sales of forms only as each of the aspirants picked the N50 million forms ahead of the February 17 party primaries.
Nno female aspirant picked the form, making it an all-male contest.
The 12 aspirants are the former Minister of State, National Economic Planning, Prince Clem Agba; Senator Monday Okpebholo, who represents Edo Central; former Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Imasuen; member representing Etsako Federal Constituency, Hon. Anamero Sunday Dekeri and former APC governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Others are Engr. Gideon Ikhine, the immediate past Edo APC chairman Col. David Imuse; Major. General Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd); Hon. Emmanuel Momoh, former Zonal Organising Secretary (South-South); Blessing Agbohmere, member representing Ovia South/West-Ovia North/East Federal Constituency; Hon. Dennis Idahosa and Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe.
The APC is adopting a direct mode of shadow election after the National Working Committee (NWC) consultation with critical stakeholders from the state, adding that it was not going to zone the seat but make it open to aspirants from the three Senatorial zones.
Twenty -nine aspirants had shown interest in picking the party’s ticket for the Government House on Dennis Osadebe Avenue, Benin.
But Prof. Julius Ihonvbere’s screening committee set up by the stakeholders later trimmed the number of aspirants from 29 to six and finally four.
The decision of the Ihonvbere committee was however jettisoned by the aspirants.
APC NWC also frowned at the decision to trim the number of aspirants as the Deputy National Organising Secretary, Hon. Nze Chidi Duru l said the party’s highest administrative organ remains the only organ saddled with the responsibility to vet and clear aspirants for the February 17 primary.