Benin — AHEAD the April 20, 2013 local government elections in Edo State, the leadership of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the state, yesterday, denied allegations that chairmanship candidates were being imposed on the people.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the party in Uhumnwonde Local Government Area has passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of Charles Idahosa, the leader of the party in the council.

The state chairman of ACN, Mr. Thomas Okosun, said contrary to allegations that candidates had been adopted, the party was yet to conduct its primaries, adding, "all the leaders are now holding meetings and where the leaders agree on a consensus candidate, the easier it becomes for them."

Some stakeholders in Uhumwonde, led by Chief Sam Iredia, had on Tuesday, accused the Political Adviser to the governor, Mr Idahosa and leader of the party in Uhumwonde, of imposing one Roland Alari as chairmanship candidate without primaries.

However, at a meeting of the leadership of the party in the council, including the 10 council ward chairmen and Minority Whip in the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie, the leaders expressed satisfaction with Idahosa's leadership and reiterated their adoption of Alari as the chairmanship candidate of the party for the election.

In a statement read by Chief Josef Omorotionmwan, the leaders recalled that "on January 28, 2013, there was a meeting of the 40-man leaders' forum together with the 10 ward chairmen and ward women leaders, where it was decided, in line with ACN party extant rule, to unanimously endorse Alari as a consensus candidate of the party in the forthcoming elections."