The All Progressives Congress senatorial primary for Edo South has entered a tense and controversial phase after two rival declarations produced separate winners, deepening the political battle between Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.
The dispute followed Monday’s APC senatorial primary conducted across the seven local government areas and 77 wards of Edo South Senatorial District in Edo State.
While one faction of party officials declared Ogbeide-Ihama winner of the contest, another camp announced Ize-Iyamu as the duly elected candidate, throwing the exercise into uncertainty and setting the stage for what may become a major internal crisis within the party.
According to figures released by the faction supporting Ogbeide-Ihama, he allegedly polled 27,154 votes to emerge winner, while Senator Neda Imasuen reportedly scored 13,580 votes and Ize-Iyamu was placed third with 6,785 votes.
However, supporters of Ize-Iyamu have strongly rejected the result, arguing that the figures do not reflect what transpired across the wards during the exercise.
The core of the disagreement now revolves around alleged ward-level evidence and video recordings said to show Ize-Iyamu being declared winner in several voting centres across the district.
Supporters of the former APC governorship candidate insist that he entered the race with stronger grassroots support and mobilisation than his rivals and that the final collation announced by the Ogbeide-Ihama camp does not match the voting pattern witnessed in many wards.
One APC member who spoke on the controversy questioned how Senator Imasuen, whom many did not consider among the two dominant contenders, eventually appeared ahead of Ize-Iyamu in the disputed final tally.
According to the source, the contest was largely seen as a direct battle between Ize-Iyamu and Ogbeide-Ihama, making the final placement of Ize-Iyamu in third position suspicious to many of his supporters.
The dispute has now evolved beyond mere political complaints into what party members describe as a potential “evidence war,” with both camps expected to rely on ward results, recordings, petitions and testimonies to defend their claims.
Although Ogbeide-Ihama’s camp has already begun reconciliation efforts and urged party unity ahead of the 2027 elections, Ize-Iyamu’s supporters remain unconvinced, insisting that the matter cannot be closed without a thorough review of the ward-level process.
The growing tension now places pressure on the APC national leadership in Abuja, where the final decision on which result receives official recognition may eventually be made.
Party observers believe the crisis could become a major test of APC’s internal credibility in Edo South, especially if one faction feels ignored or unfairly treated during the final resolution process.
For now, the primary remains clouded by confusion, competing declarations and unresolved claims over the authenticity of the final collation.
What You Should Know
Edo State has remained one of the APC’s most politically sensitive states following years of internal rivalries among influential party blocs.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu remains a major grassroots figure within Edo APC after previously contesting for governor, while Ogbeide-Ihama also commands significant political support in the district.
Disputed primaries have historically triggered prolonged legal and political battles within Nigerian parties, sometimes leading to defections, court cases or weakened election performances.
The Edo South senatorial dispute now threatens to reopen old divisions within the APC unless the national leadership manages the crisis carefully and transparently before the 2027 elections.
