Parallel elections reportedly marred the conduct of the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary for the Edo South senatorial election.
DAILY POST reports that two aspirants, Pastor Osagie Ize-Ihama and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, are laying claim to the candidacy of the party.
The primary was reportedly conducted by supporters loyal to Ogbeide-Ihama, who is speculated to be sponsored by Chief Nyesow Wike, the former governor of Rivers State and the incumbent minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and allegedly backed by Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State.
Ogbeide-Ihama was declared the highest scorer of the election by Mohammad Ajana, chairman of the primary election committee.
Ajana said Ogbeide-Ihama polled a total of 27, 154 votes while his closest rival, Senator Neda Imasuen, scored 13,580 votes, and Ize-Iyamu got 6,785 votes in all the 77 wards across the seven local government areas of the senatorial district.
In other results, one Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, who is the chief returning officer, declared Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu the winner.
Kabiru said Osagie Ize-Iyamu scored 33,399 votes to emerge the winner, and that Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama polled 12,560 votes, while Neda Imasuen got 5,107 votes.
Speaking shortly after the announcement of the results, the elated Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, while expressing gratitude to his supporters, assured them of better representation after the next round of victory in the general election.
He said the victory marks a significant step as he prepares to represent the APC in the senatorial district.
It was gathered that officials of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, were on the ground to observe the conduct of the primaries held across the seven local government areas that made up the Senatorial District.