•PDP picks ex-student leader
A former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Johnson Oghuma, has been elected candidate of the All Progressive Congress for the scheduled January 28 bye-election for Etsako Federal constituency in the National Assembly.
The Etsako Federal Constituency seat became vacant following the election of Hon Philip Shaibu as the Edo State Deputy Governor.
Oghuma scored 334 votes to defeat Blessing Agbomhere who garnered 75 votes.
Chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Senator Ibn Na’ Allah, who declared Oghuma winner said 411 delegates were accredited but 409 votes were valid. He said two votes were declared invalid.
Before the elections were concluded, Agbonmhere stormed out of the Ikelebe Sports Arena at Auchi, venue of the APC primaries.
Agbomhere, who was seen earlier complaining to Senator Na’ Allah, led his supporters to protest against further conduct of the election.
He told newsmen that the primary was rigged in favour of his opponent.
Security personnel formed a wall around Senator Na’ Allah to prevent any physical confrontation.
Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Taiwo Akerele, who was present at the primaries said the protest of Agbomhere was normal in any electoral contest.
State Chairman of the party, Anselm Ojezua, described the primaries as transparent.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has picked a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Mr. Jude Imagwe, as its candidate for the Etsako bye-election
Imagwe emerged through a consensus agreement but party members were still allowed to cast their votes.
Imagwe, who is a former Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youths Matters, said his emergence would redefine politics in the region.