A serving federal lawmaker representing Edo State, Honourable Marcus Onobun, has vehemently challenged the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency. Onobun maintains he emerged victorious in the direct primary conducted by the party, despite an official declaration naming Lucky Esiegbe as the winner. This brewing political tussle underscores the often-contentious nature of party primaries across Nigeria, where post-election disputes are a common feature.
The incumbent lawmaker formally lodged a comprehensive petition on Sunday with the APC Primary Election Petitions Committee. In his submission, Onobun explicitly stated that a meticulous review of ward-level results from across the constituency unequivocally shows he secured the highest number of votes. This direct contradiction to the announced victory of Mr. Lucky Esiegbe forms the crux of his appeal to the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism, a process crucial for maintaining internal party democracy and trust.
Emphasizing the party’s laid-down procedures, Onobun reiterated that the APC had approved the direct primary mode for the constituency. This electoral method empowers all registered party members across the thirty wards within the federal constituency to directly elect their preferred candidate – a system often lauded for promoting grassroots participation and transparency within Nigerian political parties. However, Onobun pointed to significant “irregularities in the collation and announcement of results,” alleging that “due process was not followed in several wards” during the crucial stages of the primary exercise. Such claims of procedural breaches are common in Nigerian primaries and often lead to lengthy post-primary litigations and appeals.
In his petition, Honourable Onobun urged the APC Primary Election Petitions Committee to meticulously scrutinize the declared ward results. He called for a thorough comparison against reports submitted by party officials, accredited agents, and other available documentary evidence to ascertain the true outcome. His ultimate demand is unequivocal, as he firmly stated, “That I be declared rightful winner of the APC primary, having secured the majority of lawful votes.” He insists that only a fair and transparent review would reflect the true wishes of the party faithful in the Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency and uphold the integrity of the party’s internal electoral process.
As the APC’s internal committee now reviews the weighty allegations presented by Honourable Onobun, the political landscape of the Esan Federal Constituency remains charged. The outcome of this petition will not only determine the party’s flagbearer for the upcoming general elections but also test the transparency and fairness of the APC’s internal democratic processes in Edo State, a region known for its vibrant and often hotly contested political contests.
Originally sourced from Premium Times. This article has been rewritten for our readers.
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