By Chesa Chesa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has offered reasons behind the removal of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State as hairman of the Edo State governorship primary election committee
The party on Wednesday replaced Governor Uzodimma with his counterpart from Cross River, Bassey Otu, to complete the governorship primary election, that was declared inconclusive.
There were calls and protest by some groups and party members that Governor Uzodimma be removed amid allegations of bias and improper conduct of the exercise.
Addressing a press conference Thursday in Abuja, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the party did not sack Uzodimma but the Governor was unavoidably absent to complete the primary election.
According to Morka: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to reports in sections of the media suggesting that the Governor of Imo State, and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), His Excellency, Hope Uzodinma, was sacked or dropped as the Chairman of the Edo Gubernatorial Primary Election Committee, and replaced with the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Bassey Otu.
“We wish to clarify that Governor Uzodinma was neither “sacked” nor “dropped”, as has been erroneously reported, but was unavoidably unavailable to lead the completion of the Party’s Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election Process due to his prior scheduled attendance of, and presentation of a report, to the National Economic Council meeting today February 22, 2024.
“As a result, His Excellency Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross Rivers State, who was the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, graciously accepted to serve as Chairman, and to complete the Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election Process.”
