The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State as the chairman of a seven-member committee tasked with conducting the primary election for the party's governorship candidate in Edo State on February 17.

This was announced in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday by Sulaiman Argungu, the APC National Organising Secretary. Argungu also mentioned that Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has been selected as the Deputy Chairman to assist Uzodimma.

He further added that the Primary Election Committee includes Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, former deputy governor of Osun State, Nentanwe Yilwatde Goshwe, APC's flagbearer for the 2023 Plateau State governorship election, Umar Musa, Lawan Garba, and Rabiu Suleiman, who will serve as the Secretary.

The ruling party also formed an appeal committee for the governorship primary election, with C.C. Udenwa as the chairman and Yunusa Mohammed as the Secretary. This decision was made four days after the APC's leadership cleared all 12 contenders vying for the party's sole ticket to run in the September 22 Edo governorship election.

The successful candidates include Gideon Ikhine, former State Chairman of APC, Clem Agba, former Minister of State for National Economic Planning, Prof Oserheimen Osunbor, former Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo, senator representing Edo Central, Lucky Imasuen, former deputy governor, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and Anamero Dekeri, lawmaker representing Etsako Federal Constituency. The remaining contenders are Blessing Agbohmere, former Zonal Organising Secretary for South-South, Dennis Idahosa, member of the House of Representatives, Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Col. David Imuse, and Major General Charles Airhiavbere (retd).