Former member of the House of Representatives, Omorgie Ogbeide-Ihama, has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo South Senatorial District primary election after defeating serving Senator Ned Imasuen and former governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Ogbeide-Ihama secured a total of 27,154 votes to defeat Imasuen, who polled 13,580 votes, while Ize-Iyamu came third with 6,785 votes.
The former lawmaker recorded wide margins across the local government areas in the senatorial district, consolidating his dominance in the contest regarded by political observers as one of the most closely watched APC primaries in Edo State.
In Oredo Local Government Area, Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,950 votes against Imasuen’s 1,974 votes and Ize-Iyamu’s 986 votes.
He also won Ohuonmde with 2,626 votes, while Imasuen secured 1,314 votes and Ize-Iyamu polled 657 votes.
In Ovia North East, the former House of Representatives member scored 3,514 votes to defeat Imasuen’s 1,759 votes and Ize-Iyamu’s 878 votes.
Ogbeide-Ihama maintained his lead in Ovia South West with 4,263 votes, while Imasuen garnered 2,759 votes and Ize-Iyamu polled 1,065 votes.
At Ikpoba Okha, he secured his highest tally of 5,517 votes, leaving Imasuen with 2,759 votes and Ize-Iyamu with 1,378 votes.
The APC chieftain also emerged victorious in Orhionwon and Egor local government areas with 3,058 and 4,226 votes respectively.
Ogbeide-Ihama, an engineer-turned-politician, served two terms in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023 and is widely known for his strong grassroots political structure in Edo South.
His victory is being seen as a major political upset, especially against two influential figures within the APC fold in the state.
