The incumbent senator representing Edo South District and APC aspirant, Neda Imasuen has said that only the APC National Working Committee is empowered to announce the official results of the party’s primary elections, amid ongoing disputes over the outcome of the Edo State primaries.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, he said:
“The party says that after the conduct of the election, of the primaries, the results will be announced in Abuja by the National Working Committee. And so it’s not for me or anyone else, I believe, to begin to make claims to whatever votes or victory, so to speak. As far as I’m concerned, the final tally of the result has not been announced because those who are announcing them are not in position to do so. And so I don’t recognize it.”
On whether the APC Edo primaries were up to global standards, Sen. Neda Imasuen assessed that the process fell far below acceptable democratic standards, alleging widespread irregularities and disruption across multiple polling units in his senatorial district.
“It’s not even close to global standards. Again, it was disappointing from our perspective, from my point of view and from the point of view of my canvassers, who were my agents, who were in the 77 wards of my senatorial district. It’s the same report that I got. In my own ward where I went to vote, I was not even allowed to vote. I mean, that’s the truth. It was announced that they would not be allowed two lines, more than one line. So they couldn’t accept two lines. I’m standing in front and my supporters are coming behind me, said no, there cannot be two lines, it has to be only one line. And that is the line of the preferred candidate of the party. And so, it became rowdy when I wanted to hold my ground. So my security advised that looking at the atmosphere, which was charged, that I should just leave to avoid unintended consequences, consequences ending there and then. And so I left. So it doesn’t meet the global standards at all,” he explained.
Speaking on his defection from the Labour Party to the APC, Imasuen, explained that the decision was unavoidable at the time, insisting that the LP’s structure in Edo State had already collapsed and left him with no viable political alternative.
“On whether or not I consider it a costly mistake for defecting from the Labour Party to the APC, I don’t think so. I would do it again because at the time that I defected, the truth is I had no option. Labour Party had already been decimated, if you ask me. And so there was just no other option. And Edo State today, I don’t think there’s Labour Party anywhere. So no, it was not a mistake at all. No, I wouldn’t consider it a mistake,” he maintained.
Addressing concerns over legislative continuity in Edo South, Imasuen argued that retaining experienced senators strengthens effectiveness in the National Assembly, particularly in committee work and policymaking, while noting that first-time lawmakers often require time to adapt to the chamber’s procedures and responsibilities.
“I made that case very seriously and I said that it’s good for you to return your senator back to the Senate to rank. Now, as a fresher, you come to the Senate, you are learning. In the next one, two years, you are learning. And not only that, you would not be given such responsibility of committees or principal offices, which will enable you to be able to bring the dividends of that democracy to your constituency,” he said.
Raising concerns over external influences in Edo South politics, Imasuen contrasted the situation with Edo North and Edo Central, which he said retained their senators through consensus arrangements.
“Look at Edo North. Edo North is returning its own. Edo Central said they are returning their own. And so you ask what happened to Edo South? And we are told that external factors are the one affecting Edo South, that some people have made some pacts with some other people outside Edo South to return certain individuals. It’s beyond me. I don’t even understand it. So Edo South has become a trading bloc of interest for people who have no business with Edo State. And so it has become very interesting to me. It’s laughable.”
Reiterating his commitment to the APC, Sen. Imasuen said he would not consider defecting, stressing that his political loyalty is based on conviction rather than convenience.
“With or without the Electoral Act that would have prevented anyone from jumping ships now, I would not have jumped ships, if you know my nature, the person that I am. I don’t go forum shopping for where I can get a vote. If I believe in a cause, I stay with it. I’m with the APC and I will be with the APC. And I believe also in the ideals and the principles and the policies of our President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I have supported his policies and will continue to support them for the period that I have left in the Senate. I do so because I believe in the ideals, I believe that what he is doing, his policies are forward-looking policies, policies that will help the country economically and otherwise. So I will be there to support it,” he stressed.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Sen. Imasuen expressed hope for reconciliation within the APC, urging party members to embrace unity and honest dialogue.
“As we move towards 2027, it is my prayer and my hope that there will be a total reconciliation and us looking ourselves in the face and telling ourselves the truth. I mean we have to be honest with ourselves so that there can be unity, coming united as a party to be able to—because what is in front of us is greater than what we have just gone through,” he urged.
He warned that internal divisions could weaken the party’s prospects, adding that recent disputes were unfortunate and should have been handled with greater foresight and cohesion.
“The way it is, if we are not cohesive, if we are not together, it will be a problem,” he warned.
He added that recent disputes were unfortunate and should have been handled better.
“What has just happened is unfortunate that those who orchestrated it did not look forward, could not see beyond yesterday to know that there’s something greater ahead of us for us to come together to work towards. Rather, what they have tried to do is create divisiveness, and that is not going to work for us.”
Favour Odima
