Leading candidates in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary have rejected Senator Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo State, as chairman of the elections committee in preparation for Thursday’s kickoff of the electoral process.

The candidates declared that Uzodinma did not adhere to the minimal standards for compliance with the pertinent provisions of the current laws and regulations steering the election, as stipulated both in the Electoral Act and in the APC Constitution, having been made known in a joint statement signed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and General Charles Airhiavbere (retd).

The Edo state governorship primary held last Saturday was deemed inconclusive by the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC).

After an urgent NWC meeting, the decision was made late on Tuesday.

Following the roughly three-hour meeting, APC spokesman Felix Morka disclosed to reporters and saying: “The NWC resolves that the Edo State governorship primary election has not been completed and has now fixed Thursday, February 22, 2024 for the completion of the APC primary election process.”

He refused answering any further questions.

Leading the primary election return officers from the local government, Babatunde Ojo, announced Anamero Dekeri, a member of the house of representatives, as the winner on Saturday.

The event transpired subsequent to Senator Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo state and Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, declaring Dennis Idahosa, a fellow federal legislator, the winner of the contest.

Furthermore, Senator Monday Okpebholo had been pronounced the winner by returning officer Stanley Ugboaja.

The three candidates individually went ahead as to demand for their certificates of return following their declaration as winners of the primaries.

Even so, in their statement, the aspirants said; “We strongly believe that whatever was responsible for his flagrant disregard for due process and unusual hasty declaration of unconfirmed fictitious results of the primaries outside the designated collation center may not have abated from his mind, and therefore may be repeated if given the opportunity to play the same role as chairman in the process.

“In the circumstance, we are calling on Mr President to kindly use his good offices to replace Senator Hope Uzodinma with any other respected member of our great party, as chairman whom the President strongly believes will comply with the law, maintain internal democracy, protect and defend the integrity and goodwill of the President which he has attained over the years that endeared him to both national and international stakeholders.

“Furthermore, we believe that this is the only way to remedy the ridicule and embarrassment that Uzodinma’s tactless and overzealous behaviour, which in the view of keen observers of happenings in the ongoing process of nominating a viable candidate of our party, runs within the borderline of mischief and clotted with antidemocratic vestments, unknown to law.

“We have implicit confidence in Mr President’s devotion to justice, equity and fairness in the process that will produce the Gubernatorial Candidate of our party in Edo State which is now rescheduled for tomorrow 22nd February 2024, and also ensure victory for our party in the governorship election that is scheduled for September, 2024,” the statement added.