Two aspirants emerged as the Edo All Progressives Congress governorship candidates after the party’s primary polls conducted on Saturday in preparation for the September 21 election.

Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the party committee for Edo, pronounced Dennis Idahosa the winner, scoring 4,483, while Gideon Ikhine came second with 700 votes.

Also, Ogbuaja Uzoamaka, the state’s returning officer, announced Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected winner of the primary polls, scoring 12,145 votes, while Mr Idahosa scored 5,536 votes to place second.

Mr Uzoamaka said the Imo governor’s position as committee head was merely ceremonial and had no power to support or thwart the legitimacy of an elected candidate.

But Mr Uzodimma insists that his declaration of Mr Idahosa as the victor was valid even though the collation centre was attacked by thugs who scattered and destroyed the chairs and tables at the GRA venue of the state, leading election officials to move to another venue.

APC at the national level threw its weight behind Mr Uzodimma, saying only Mr Idahosa would be recognised as the party’s flag bearer.

“We wish to state categorically that only the Governor Hope Uzodinma-Led Edo State APC Governorship Primary Election Committee is duly authorised to undertake the final collation and announcement of results of the Primary Election in the State,” said Felix Morka, APC national spokesperson.

“We urge all party members, officials in the State, and the general public to disregard the said announcement of results by these unauthorised persons,” he added.

Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate for the 2020 polls, withdrew his candidacy at the last minute, specifically on the election eve. Twelve aspirants were cleared to participate in the primaries.