A major political upset unfolded in Edo State on Saturday as the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Owan Federal Constituency seat.
The primary election, held at the APC secretariat in Afuze, was contested by five aspirants seeking the party’s ticket ahead of the general election.
Announcing the results, the presiding officer, Kelvin Muhammed, declared former Edo State Commissioner for Mining, Andrew Ijegbia, winner of the keenly contested exercise after polling 3,695 votes.
According to the official results, Abdul Oroh secured 1,740 votes, while Ihonvbere garnered 1,005 votes. Other contenders, identified as Folly and Barrister Scot, polled 505 and 642 votes respectively.
“The total votes cast were 7,587, and the winner of this primary election is Honourable Andrew Ijegbia,” Muhammed announced.
The outcome means Ihonvbere has failed in his bid to secure a third term in the House of Representatives under the APC platform.
A video of the announcement was reportedly published by NTA Uzairue shortly after the exercise.
