Marcus Onobum, former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and current member representing Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Federal Constituency, has raised allegations of irregularities following the announcement of results by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Primary Election Committee. The committee declared winners in all nine federal constituencies of the state.
Results Announced by Committee Chairman
Muhammed Ajana, chairman of the committee overseeing the House of Representatives primary election held last Saturday, presented the results at the State Party Secretariat. The declared winners include Dr Paddy Iyamu for Oredo Federal Constituency; Omosede Igbinedion for Ovia Federal Constituency; Felix Osazee Igbinovia for Ikpoba-Okha/Egor Federal Constituency; Billy Osawaru for Uhunmwonde/Orhionmwon Federal Constituency; Odianosen Okojie for Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency; Dr Lucky Eseigbe for Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency; Oladele Bankole-Balogun for Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency; Anamero Sunday Dekeri for Etsako Federal Constituency; and Andrew Ijegbai for Owan Federal Constituency.
Committee Chairman's Remarks
While issuing certificates of return to the winners, Ajana stated that there were no negative incidents recorded at any of the primary election venues. He emphasized that committee members were deployed to the field rather than remaining in the state capital. Ajana remarked, “We have seen Edo as a pace setter for subsequent elections. We see that the election was more or less like a carnival. We didn’t just sit in the state capital but members of my electoral committee were sent out to various federal constituencies to conduct the primary for the House of Representatives. In Edo, it wasn’t a state of where people sit down behind the corridors of power to write names. This election was taken to the grassroots and the grassroots have elected their leaders to represent them in the various federal constituencies.”
Onobum's Petition and Allegations
However, Onobum, who lost the primary to Dr Lucky Eseigbe, strongly contested the results. He arrived at the State Party Secretariat with a petition but claimed he could not find any official to receive it. Describing the primary in his constituency as a sham, Onobum asserted that he was the rightful winner, not Eseigbe. “I am here at the Party State Secretariat in Benin to submit a petition to the Primary Election Committee as well as the Appeal Committee. As you all know, yesterday the 16th of May 2026 we had our primaries in my federal constituency and everybody came out en masse to vote for me, but I began to see online some people brandishing results of our party, alleging that somebody has won the election,” Onobum stated.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions within the party as candidates prepare for the general elections.
