Fresh controversy has erupted around the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Edo State after Leader of the House of Representatives, Julius Ihonvbere, rejected reports alleging he lost his return bid for the Owan East/Owan West Federal Constituency ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a dramatic twist that has deepened confusion over the outcome of the exercise, Ihonvbere’s camp insisted the senior lawmaker actually won the direct primary conducted across the constituency, contrary to earlier reports suggesting he had been defeated by former commissioner Andrew Ijegbai.
The rebuttal, issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Samson Akhanieme, described reports of Ihonvbere’s defeat as misleading and inconsistent with ward-level results collated from the exercise.
According to the House Leader’s camp, figures obtained from across Owan East and Owan West showed Ihonvbere polling 4,729 votes, while his closest challenger, Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, secured 2,912 votes. Another aspirant, Hon. Abdul Oroh, reportedly scored 29 votes.
The statement further claimed that two aspirants—Hon. Foly Ogedengbe and Barrister Friday Ojealaro—stepped down before voting commenced and endorsed Ihonvbere in a show of political solidarity.
To reinforce the victory claim, the camp said result sheets and video recordings from various wards were available as evidence of the outcome announced by party officials at the constituency level.
The development has now thrown the APC primary in the constituency into uncertainty, especially after earlier reports widely circulated that Ijegbai had defeated the House Leader in one of the biggest upsets recorded during the ongoing APC primaries nationwide.
Political observers say the conflicting claims expose the growing tension, factional battles, and intense struggle for dominance currently shaping APC primaries across several states.
For many analysts, the controversy surrounding Ihonvbere’s ticket reflects the broader internal contest within the ruling party, where incumbents are increasingly facing resistance from emerging power blocs and local political structures determined to renegotiate influence ahead of 2027.
Despite the confusion, Ihonvbere maintained a conciliatory tone after the exercise, calling for unity among APC members and urging former aspirants and party stakeholders to work together ahead of the general elections.
According to him, the focus should remain on strengthening the party’s chances in Edo State rather than deepening internal divisions after the primaries.
The unfolding situation has already sparked widespread reactions within political circles, with many awaiting official clarification from APC authorities to determine the authentic outcome of the primary.
As the battle over the ticket intensifies, the Edo APC may now face the difficult task of managing post-primary grievances and avoiding another round of internal disputes capable of weakening party cohesion before the 2027 elections.