Edo
IGP Deploys Policemen In Edo Ahead Of APC Primaries
Ahead of the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State on Monday, June 22, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has deployed mobile policemen from Delta, Bayelsa, and other States to Edo
According to the Edo State Police Command on Saturday said the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had on the request of the state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, approved the deployment of policemen in the state for the conduct of the primaries.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Chidi Nwabuzor, told reporters in an interview that the state had received two detachments of Police Mobile Force from Delta and Bayelsa states, noting that some were already in Benin City others expected.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed the order gazetted by the state government that political parties must obtain approval of the governor to hold any political gathering.
The APC maintained that it did not require a permit from the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, to hold direct primary as its preferred mode of choosing candidate for the September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state.
Obaseki had in a gazette signed on May 28 and published on June 5, banned political gatherings that could make direct primary possible in the state stipulating that only indirect primary could be held in the state and in only one location, Benin City.
The order partly reads, “That in respect of political gatherings for the purpose of conducting primaries for any of the parties desiring to field candidates in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, gatherings of more than 20 persons may be allowed, subject to the written approval of the governor, if such gatherings do not exceed 5,000 persons; hold in Benin City and in a single facility with a large seating capacity of not less than 10,000 persons; are provided with adequate health, safety and sanitary facilities and are COVID-19 response compliant with social distancing policy, hand-washing and proper use of face masks fully observed.”
The governor had explained that the law was in line with the determination of his administration to stop the spread of COVID-19. But the APC argued that it was a political move to stop it from conducting its direct primary to choose its candidate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had revealed that of the 15 political parties participating in the election, 14 chose indirect primary while only the APC chose direct primary.
But responding on Saturday, the APC Acting National Chairman, Abiola Ajimobi, who spoke through the National Vice Chairman (South South), Hilliard Eta, said in a telephone interview that the APC as a law-abiding party believed that only the Federal Government was currently empowered to enact the kind of order, Godwin Obaseki, gazetted.
He said, “Under the law as it is operational in Nigeria today, it is only the Federal Government that has powers to make laws under a pandemic such as the coronavirus as we have it today. The gazette that Obaseki has signed says not more than 50 persons can gather.
“In any case, since we now have only one aspirant left, we don’t have to have any permit to conduct our affirmation.
“All we need to do is to ask the question, “Do you want Pastor Ize-Iyamu yes or no finish. If he (Obaseki) likes, let him say people should not gather at all, we will do the affirmation in the various houses of our members.”
One of our correspondents had also gathered from sources that the two other aspirants cleared by the party’s screening committee; Osaro Obazee and Dr Pius Odubu, had withdrawn from the primary, leaving only Pastor Ize-Iyamu in the race.
But in his response, the governor, through his Media Adviser, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said that the gazette was still in force and would be enforced. He said the state was prepared to ensure that every gathering in the state complied with the COVID-19 prevention protocol.
He explained that there was nothing political about the law, saying it was meant to protect the people of the state from deadly diseases.
According to him, as a responsible leader, Obaseki owed it a duty to the people and residents of the state to protect them from unnecessary exposure to diseases especially during a pandemic such as the one being experienced across the globe.
He also explained that as of 9pm on Saturday, the relevant agencies of the state had not received any request for a permit from the APC.
Osagie stressed, “We have not received any request for a permit by the APC to hold primary. The state gazette is still in force and will be enforce. It is a requirement.”
The APC governorship primary holds on Monday, June 22 while that of the PDP is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, 2020.
Meanwhile, Police deploy mobile policemen from Delta, Bayelsa, others to Edo
The Edo State Police Command on Saturday said the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had on the request of the state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo, approved the deployment of policemen in the state for the conduct of the primaries.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Chidi Nwabuzor, told one of our correspondents in an interview that the state had received two detachments of Police Mobile Force from Delta and Bayelsa states, noting that some were already in Benin City others expected.
He, however, did not disclose the number of policemen for the election.
He said, “The Edo State Police Command is ready to ensure that there are peaceful primaries and in doing that adequate security arrangements have been made by the Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo. He is not doing it alone, he is working with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state.
“Critical stakeholders have been reached. We have 192 wards in Edo State and the tactical teams from command levels will move to these wards according to their posting.”
Also, the Head, Public Relations, NSCDC Edo State Command, Mr Efosa Ogbebor, said the command would make use of armed and unmarked personnel for the exercise.
He added, “We do not disclose the number of personnel for security reasons. However, we have deployed adequate personnel, both armed and unarmed as well as intelligence for the party primaries. They are specifically for exercise. We are fully on the ground with other security agencies to ensure that the exercise is carried out peacefully.”
Oshiomhole, Obaseki, And Politics Of Edo State
The politics of Edo State has dominated public discussion in the past one week. It’s all because of the startling decision by a screening panel to disqualify the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, from contesting the upcoming party governorship primary.
That ruling has upset many citizens of the state and it may well cost the All Progressives Congress (APC) not only the governorship but also the goodwill of the people who now feel insulted by the party leaders.
The evidence on which the panel relied to disqualify Obaseki was high-handed, inequitable, prejudiced, thoughtless, dishonest, and must be proven.
People on the ground in Edo State are the focal lens through which we can assess Obaseki’s achievements or failure.
They say Obaseki is doing a fantastic job, that he is taking care of the basic needs of the poor, that he is paying salaries promptly, providing financial support that helped to ease the hardships that confronted citizens because of COVID-19, and undertaking capital projects regardless of the economic challenges.
With this stellar performance by Obaseki, why would the APC leaders remove the man who symbolises steadfastness, unpretentiousness, and positive energy?
What a difference four years makes in the life of a politician. Four years ago, Obaseki was the poster boy of the APC. At various public rallies, APC chairperson Adams Oshiomhole eulogised Obaseki.
Oshiomhole made us to believe that Obaseki had no blemishes and that, with him as governor, Edo State was in safe hands and politically advanced.
Here is the glaring hypocrisy in the APC decision to exclude Obaseki. Four years ago when Obaseki received the support of the APC to contest the governorship of Edo State, APC leaders did not spot any stains on Obaseki’s certificates and his family name.
Today, APC leaders say Obaseki is a political liability because of issues relating to a missing letter in his family name and his higher school certificate. How revealing. How duplicitous. How narcissistic. How contradictory.
Someone said last week that it is Edo people who should decide whether Governor Obaseki deserved a second chance. It is not politicians far removed from the ground who should superimpose their views on the people’s choice of a governorship contestant.
There is a clear case of inconsistency relating to the manner in which Obaseki was judged. Oshiomhole himself provided unvarnished testimony of Obaseki’s character and qualifications.
At one public event, Oshiomhole spoke highly about Obaseki. He said Obaseki had all the educational qualifications. He said Obaseki completed his primary and secondary school education.
And that there were no questions about the qualifications. He also said Obaseki studied for his undergraduate degree at the University of Ibadan, and completed his master’s degree in the United States.
These attestations came straight from Oshiomhole’s mouth. On what basis, therefore, could APC leaders now say there are questions about Obaseki’s higher school certificate?
Apart from academic qualifications, candidates for the office of governor must show they are men and women of high character, that they have an enviable track record of achievements, that they are hardworking, that they are credible, that they are tireless, that they are authentic or believable, that they are amiable and, above all, that they can serve the people and provide leadership.
So, when did Oshiomhole and APC leaders discover that Obaseki had major flaws that would undermine the party’s interests in Edo State?
Why didn’t the APC leadership abandon Obaseki four years ago when they knew he was not an immaculate governorship candidate? Surely, Oshiomhole and the party leadership did not just wake up last week to realise that Obaseki was not a backable governorship candidate.
The chairperson of the screening panel that assessed the eligibility of the candidates for the party’s primary said Obaseki and two other candidates were ruled ineligible on three grounds, namely: questions relating to the authenticity of their educational certificates; irregularities in their names; and discrepancies in their ages.
The ruling against Obaseki was dubious. If Obaseki possessed undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, why should the panel be obsessed with his higher school certificate?
If Obaseki did not possess the certificate, how did he gain admission into the University of Ibadan? And why did the party leaders support his candidacy four years ago?
There is something sneaky in the APC disqualifying Obaseki in 2020 when the party supported him to win the governorship election four years ago.
Years ago, Oshiomhole stated on record that the key qualification outlined in the Constitution was the ability of a political candidate to read and write, not possession of educational certificates. That was an incorrect claim.
Another reason given by the screening panel for disqualifying Obaseki was an error in his family name that appeared in his NYSC certificate. Just one letter “i” was found to be missing from the name “Obaseki.” For that reason, the panel ruled to disqualify him.
It is obvious the panel was looking for evidence, any evidence, with which to hang Obaseki. The panel did not consider that the error could have been from the NYSC authorities. After all, Obaseki did not award the certificate to himself. Yet the panel considered the error a significant crime with which to truncate Obaseki’s re-election dream.
Some years ago, Oshiomhole recounted his own experience in 2012 about how his middle name Aliyu could be spelt in various ways such as Aliu, etc.
On the basis of that difference, a PDP candidate went to court to challenge him on what appeared to be an error in his middle name. Oshiomhole survived that challenge. He made light of that experience by questioning why the governorship of a state should be decided on an error in his middle name.
So, if an error in his name did not invalidate his candidacy, why should the screening panel find fault with a missing letter in Obaseki’s family name? Different people, different rules.
Obviously, the APC suffers from memory impairment because an error that was overlooked in Oshiomhole’s case eight years ago has now been used to terminate Obaseki’s ambition for a second term. How cruel can politics be? Where is the law of equity?
Nigerian politics is a circus. As soon as he received the report of the panel that investigated the candidates in Edo State, Oshiomhole advised the disqualified candidates to appeal the decision. That was a ploy designed to make him appear like a democrat, to give the impression that he had nothing against Obaseki and other disqualified candidates.
As a wily politician, Oshiomhole understands clearly why he needs to take a position that would not raise the fury of Edo people. In my judgment, it is now too late. The people are not fooled by his gamesmanship.
APC leaders must not misinterpret public silence or hushed conversations in Edo State as evidence that the questionable screening process that led to the disqualification of Obaseki has been widely accepted by people in the state. If indeed there is silence in Edo State, it must be the silence that forebodes the onset of trouble.
Source: Daily Sun.
PDP To Take Decision On Obaseki’s Defection, See When
A former Edo State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Felix Imoisili, has revealed that discussions with Obaseki on defecting to the main opposition party are ongoing.
Speaking to Newsmen on Monday, the Chieftain of the PDP stated that a pronouncement would be made in the next few hours.
On giving Obaseki the party’s ticket, Chief Imoisili stated that whoever emerges the winner of the PDP Primaries would fly the party’s flag in the September 19 governorship election.
Obaseki Bit The Hands That Fed Him – FFK
The former PDP secretary disclosed that since it was the party that submits candidate name to INEC, the PDP can decide to substitute any candidate name with that of Obaeki.
He, however, insisted that it is an internal affair of the party on how it chooses to select its candidate.
On Obaseki’s qualifications, Imoisili said: “Which qualification did he use to contest as governor four years ago?
“So how come that four years after, people who don’t want him re-elected are now saying he is no longer qualified.
“The issues on his qualification are already in court. Let the court make a pronouncement on whether the certificate he submitted is genuine or not.”
Just In: I Won’t Appeal My APC Governorship Disqualification — Obaseki
He added that only a court can come up with the final decision on a person being qualified to contest an election, adding that the APC panel report was only the opinion of the screening committee.
Naija News had reported that the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC had on Saturday affirmed the disqualification of Godwin Obaseki the Edo state governor and two others who had earlier disqualified by the screening panel.
The three aspirants disqualified by the APC were Governor Godwin Obaseki, Chris Ogiemwonyi, and Messrs Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen.
The screening committee led by Dr. Abubakar Fari, had disqualified Obaseki due to inconsistencies in the forms Obaseki submitted for scrutiny.
Just In: APC Appeals Committee Upholds Obaseki’s Disqualification
Fari said: “In the affidavit sworn to by Godwin Obaseki before the High Court Abuja, he stated under oath that he graduated from the University of Ibadan with a BA degree in Classical Studies in 1976. However, the university certificate he attached to his nomination form bears 1979 which is a material contradiction.’’
The committee also said it found it hard to believe Obaseki gained admission to study at the university with three credits without a proper A-levels or a diploma.
The APC panel added that the governor was in possession of two separate voter cards which is illegal. Fari added that the attestation letter of the Institute the governor claimed to have attended after secondary school, was not on the letterhead of the school.
We understand that several reports on Friday evening alleged that that Governor Obaseki has dumped the ruling APC after he was disqualified by the screening committee and had since joined the opposition PDP, with the hope of flying the party’s flag for the Edo 2020 election.
Why We Disqualified Obaseki, Ogiemwonyi, Iduoriyekemwen ― APC
Although Obaseki is yet to issue a statement regarding his alleged defection to the PDP and the plan to run for a second term in office on the platform of the main opposition party in the state, the Edo governor, however, visited two PDP governors, Nyesom Wike and Udom Emmanuel, thereby fueling rumours of his move to the opposition party.
Edo Guber: How Gov Obaseki Lost APC Power Game
The disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki and two other aspirants from participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries for the September 19, 2020 Edo State governorship election, certainly did not come as a surprise to many political watchers.
To compound his woes, the Screening Appeal Panel has adopted the reports of the Screening Committee and the APC National Working Committee (NWC) had equally endorsed both reports, completely foreclosing any possibility of Governor Obaseki contesting the party primary for the September poll on the platform of the ruling party.
In reality, his disqualification confirmed the worst fears over his dangling fate with the party and ultimately climaxed the unending rivalry and supremacy battle between him and the party’s national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
Expectedly, the regular and social media outlets have not only been agog since the news break, but also the situation, which has sharply factionalised Nigerians, has understandably become the loudest political discourse in the country and beyond.
It was really a dramatic end to the political battle as each faction deployed all manner of arsenal and winning strategy with wit, force, power, intrigues, mudslinging among others.
Of course, panic merchants had watched anxiously the unfolding drama and hostile relationship between the hitherto godson and godfather deteriorate to the intolerable level, resulting in the former almost pulling the rug off the latter’s feet, before the somersault that gave the godfather a last laugh through the decision of the committees, which declared Obaseki ineligible to re-contest.
Call it a theatre of the absurd; call it balance of terror or any other description of the manoeuvring deployed to get the desired result but as far as the battle is concerned, the incumbent governor seems to be on the losing end of the political combat.
With the decision, Governor Obaseki may struggle to come out clean of the dent on his integrity with regards to his qualification for re-election. He may not be the only political leader with alleged questionable credentials, but the integrity deficit may have come at the wrong period in his political voyage.
Retrospectively, the indication that Governor Obaseki may not escape the trap had emerged after Oshiomhole, his opponent in the battle escaped the impeachment plot against him before the outbreak of the global health pandemic.
Looking so subdued and harassed after the appearance before the screening committee, Obaseki re-emphasised for the umpteenth time that he had no confidence that he would obtain justice in the Oshiomhole-led national leadership which he said, would not remain an unbiased arbiter in the primary process of the party.
He had further complained bitterly about the humiliations meted to him at the screening, claiming that the members raised trivialities to discredit him, even as many believed that he may not have actually done much in plucking the loopholes to escape the enemy trap?
Many have also argued that the incidence that culminated in Obaseki’s disqualification may have been methodically manipulated in several ways, but questioned whether he tightened the loose ends very well especially as it concerns the credibility doubts over the authenticity of his credentials.
However, the big unanswered moral question is whether Governor Obaseki is actually guilty as charged? The continuous pontificating by the panel chairman, Prof Jonathan Ayuba may have actually put his moral integrity to question.
All through his appearances before newsmen, he had constantly boasted over his integrity but how true is better left for posterity to judge.
Justifying the unanimous adoption of his disqualification by the NWC at the weekend, Oshiomhole had while reeling out his iniquities, said: “We have reviewed the two reports and note with satisfaction that all members of the committees were unanimous in their decisions. We had deliberately appointed men and women that are, in our judgement, not only knowledgeable in academic world but also in law, what our party, APC, stands for and our ideals.
“The NWC after reviewing the two reports, the grounds for qualifications and disqualifications, is satisfied that the Appeal Panel did a thorough job that reinforced the findings of the screening committee. The NWC has unanimously approved the reports, meaning that as recommended by the committees, Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen, Chris Ogiemwonyi and Governor Godwin Obaseki have been disqualified.
“But, let me also reemphasise one other thing that it is not about certificate alone but also things beyond our control. The committee reminded us that they have a petition which drew its attention to the fact that in Edo State, contrary to the provisions of our constitution, the governor had managed the state disenabling the legislative wing of the state House of Assembly by inaugurating the House with nine members out of a House of 24 members.
“It is unacceptable in a democracy that the executive manipulated and completely disenabled the legislative arm. Let me amplify what the committees noted that even the President had intervened on this matter when he asked me to advise the IGP to ensure that illegal House is compelled to inaugurate every member in accordance with the provisions of the law and traditions of parliament.
“But the governor obtained a court order to stop the police and DSS from carrying out this instruction, which I dully communicated to the IGP and the DSS. The Senate president also intervened on this matter and he confessed to the fact that he inaugurated the House without circulating the proclamation letter to all the members elect. Yet went ahead to inaugurate nine person, leaving out 15 persons.”
But the question is, was Obaseki right to have allowed the hostile relationship with his godfather linger to the extent of the enemy using his weaknesses against him or would he have opted for the several reconciliatory windows provided by the concerned persons especially the various appeasement committees constituted to mend the fences between them?
As many equally asked, won’t he have deployed the political trick of stooping to conquer for his second term ticket before unleashing the beast in him on his detractor? If it is a moral burden on Oshiomhole to have withdrawn his backing, Robert Green in his book, the 48 Laws of Power, succinctly advised that an enemy must be killed totally.
Now that the chicken has come home to roost, casting gloom on Obaseki’s political future, there are palpable fears that the reasons adduced against him may have apparently provided legal teeth to the seen and unseen opponents fighting to wrest the ticket from him.
Above all, the fate that befell Governor Obaseki may have confirmed that political sins are never forgiven and that there is no morality in politics, but can his detractor, Oshiomhole, rightly pump Champagne and bask in the euphoria that the battle has been won and lost?
The national leadership may have manipulated the methodical approach applied in disqualifying Obaseki but many argue that the Bayelsa State incident that scuttled the party’s victory at Supreme Court still fresh in mind, may have also warranted the thorough scrutiny of his alleged defective credential that resulted in nailing him.
However, many have equally argued that the iniquities that nailed Obaseki’s coffin would have been avoided if he had gotten his ass perfectly right especially in correcting the spelling mistake on his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate corrected.
Again, on a broader perspective, the battle may have been won and lost but the situation has posed a moral question and burden on both gladiators.
The stark reality is that the marriage between both parties has crashed irredeemably, but the battle line may have been drawn, particularly with the roaring of Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) not to watch their own go down shamefully.
Expectedly, rumour merchants are already at it over the governor’s next line of action, speculating that he has not only jumped the gun, leaving the ruling party, but also inches close to joining another political platform to contest.
The reality is that even though the winners are smiling in jubilation while the losers seem to be leaking their wounds, it may not certainly going to be a stroll into the park by the ruling party, facing more hurdles now than before in the build up to the race for the governorship poll.
With this resolution of questionable credential hanging on his neck, what then are the options left for Governor Obaseki and the chances of the APC retaining the governorship seat after the September 19 do or die election? For Governor Obaseki, the options are many but certainly laced with thorns and landmines.
Although an insider source within his camp told Daily Sun that contesting under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a remote possibility as it apparently looks like an enemy camp, he does not have all it takes to assemble the structures in other smaller parties to stop the APC moving train that will make him retain his seat.
“The approach of the governor to the battle for Edo State APC confirmed that he is not a thorough bred politician but a technocrat. If he had given it his best, his strategies and approaches were not really good enough.
He explored very myopic legal options to stifle various dialogue options he would have exploited to his advantage. I fault his use of court orders to stop all the peace and reconciliation moves to settle the faceoff.
Again, his approaches to the legislative impasse in the state should have been handled differently”, the source noted.
Despite winning the battle for primary, the question now becomes, is the coast then clear for the APC to win the war?
A member of the NWC revealed in confidence that part of the game plan is that having cleared only the aspirants loyal to the national chairman, the party will exploit the option currently on the table for two of the aspirants to step down for the anointed one even before the primaries to make the exercise a mere formality.
While emphasising that it was a plan to mitigate possible casualties during the primary, the NWC said: “Agreed that the Chairman has his faults, Governor Obaseki actually played into his hands in many ways. Now that the plan has worked out perfectly well, the primaries may just be mere formalities because the possibility of other aspirants stepping down for one aspirant is currently on the table.”
For many political commentators, the ugly situation that befell Governor Obaseki apparently marks the beginning of the intense horse-trading that will define and shape the trajectory of the political contestation in the APC family for the party’s 2023 presidential ticket.
There is beginning to emerge a strong indicator for the alignment and realignment of forces and certain elements perfecting strategies to wrest the structure and machinery of the party to smoothen their chances of winning the presidential ticket.
Sources close to the Governors’ Forum revealed that the ugly treatment meted to their member would certainly lead to the implosion that will balkanise the party, stressing that they have resolved not to watch Obaseki suffer such humiliation and victimisation alone to avert such happening to any of them in distant time.
“Let me inform you on good authority that the governors are not happy over what happened to Obaseki. They have virtual meetings over the incident and resolved that if they allow such to stand, it will be a confirmation that certain elements have hijacked the structure of the party for the sole aim of deciding and defining the political contestation of 2023 presidential ticket.
“If this decision is allowed to stand, it will certainly lead to the implosion that will balkanise the APC and I can confirm to you that such arrangement is already perfected. It has certainly come to that because of the silence posture Mr. President has maintained in the face of crisis rocking the party”, the source noted.
Finally, Oshiomhole Reacts To Disqualification Of Obaseki
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, says the disqualification of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, from the party primaries is justified by the APC constitution.
Anaedoonline.com reports that the APC National Chairman made this comment while speaking with journalists on Friday, a few hours after Obaseki was disqualified by APC screening committee from participating in the party’s primary election for the forthcoming Edo 2020 election slated for September.
Although Obaseki has since rejected the screening committee’s decision, he, however, said he would not appeal the decision.
Just In: APC Disqualifies Obaseki From Edo Governorship Election
Reacting to the disqualification, Oshiomhole said the decision was subject to appeal.
His words: “I can’t comment on it now,” Oshiomhole said.
“We are just following our party constitution. We have a screening committee, they turned out a report. And the report is subject to the appeal committee for anyone who chooses to appeal against the findings of the screening committee.
Just In: I Won’t Appeal My APC Governorship Disqualification — Obaseki
“The purpose of the screening is to take nothing for granted. And until they go through the appeal process, I as the National Chairman cannot comment on it,” he said.
It is a no-brainer: Godwin Obaseki’s next destination after his disqualification by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday can only be the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the second biggest party in Edo state.
He has already said he will not appeal his disqualification by the governorship screening panel — a clear message that he intends to continue his fight from another platform.
The Edo state governor, who ran against Osagie Ize-Iyamu in 2016, will most likely end up swapping places with his old opponent: he as the PDP candidate and Ize-Iyamu as the APC candidate.
Just In: APC Disqualifies Obaseki From Edo Governorship Election
Not that Ize-Iyamu has won APC’s ticket already — that will be settled in the June 22 primary — but he is believed to be the choice of Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of APC and Obaseki’s erstwhile godfather who installed him as governor in 2016.
It was confirmed that the PDP had been waiting in the wings for the APC crisis to boil over so that it can provide a platform for Obaseki. Now is the time.
The party had also, in principle, reserved its governorship ticket for Obaseki, but it is not clear yet if the June 19 PDP primary will be a walk-over for him.
There are four major aspirants in the PDP as things stand: Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a member of the house of reps; Ifaluyi Isibor, a former rep; Kenneth Imansuagbon and George Ikhine.
Just In: I Won’t Appeal My APC Governorship Disqualification — Obaseki
Typically, Obaseki would need a waiver to run for the PDP ticket as a fresh member, but this is not usually a problem if the party executives at state and national levels are on the same page.
Ize-Iyamu has already joined the APC with his supporters, and this is believed to have weakened the PDP.
In 2016, Obaseki outscored Ize-Iyamu by 319,483 to 253,173 votes, but the PDP has always been strong in Edo state, currently controlling two of the three senatorial districts.
Just In: Court Stops Oshiomhole, APC From Conducting Edo Primaries
Obaseki is also expected to move with his APC supporters to the PDP.
In all, the Edo governorship election, slated for September 19, promises to be more than a walk in the park for either party.
The Cable
Just In: I Won’t Appeal My APC Governorship Disqualification — Obaseki
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has said he will not appeal his disqualification from All Progressives Congress, APC, primaries, an act he described as “Oshiomhole’s rascality.”
In a statement by Mr. Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Obaseki said: “We have watched the mockery of the democratic process, which Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is administering and superintending over in our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC) “It has been an unfortunate, disheartening and dreadful spectacle.
We had initially asserted that going by the open display and enthronement of illegality by one man in the party that comprises several organs and eminent personalities, there is no way that Governor Godwin Obaseki would get a fair assessment in the run-up to the nomination of candidates to fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming Edo gubernatorial election.
Obaseki, Others Welcome At PDP Ahead Of Governorship Election
It is unfortunate that this open show of shame, illegality and travesty of justice is the brand of democracy which Comrade Oshiomhole has reduced the APC into.
The situation is quite saddening because this is a party supposedly reputed for change, equity and social justice.
We have therefore decided that it would be effort in futility to appeal whatever the unjust outcome of the evaluation and screening process of the APC will be, especially when Comrade Oshiomhole has declared that he is the Supreme Court and ultimate determiner of the fate and future of our great party.
We wish Oshiomhole luck in his maladministration of the party and trust that the Almighty will help our country to find the path to true liberty, freedom and justice.
Obaseki Lacks The Constitutional Right To Ask Oshiomhole To Steer Clear Of Party Primary
We call on all party members and the teeming supporters of Governor Obaseki to remain calm and await further directives. Long live Edo State. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Just In: APC Disqualifies Obaseki From Edo Governorship Election
Governor Godwin Obaseki has been disqualified from contesting the upcoming governorship election under the APC.
The All Progressives Congress has disqualified Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and two other aspirants from contesting the primaries of the party in the June 22 primary for the governorship election in the state.
The party made the announcement on Friday.
Edo Decides: Pastor Ize-Iyamu Reveals Whether To Dump APC
Announcing the disqualification at the party headquarters in Abuja, the chairman of the screening committee, Professor Jonathan Ayuba, said only three aspirants were qualified to contest for the primary.
According to the screening committee, Obaseki presented the Higher School Certificate which the panel said was defective as no such certificate in existence, adding that the National Youth Service Corps certificate he presented did not have his name written properly.
Based on these, the committee said the governor is not qualified to contest for the party primary scheduled for June 22.
Speaking after the screening committee briefing, Oshiomhole said the screening committee report is subject to the appeal committee, “and the appeal committee will give the opportunity to all those who have participated” to approach if they have reasons to counter the judgement of the APC screening committee.
Obaseki Set To Be Made APC Governorship Candidate
Gov Godwin Obaseki Canvassing support for the second term ambition of Governor Obaseki, local government chairmen in Edo State said he has provided a clear focus on where the state should be and how the state can get there. Specifically, they praised Obaseki for growing the state’s economy, attracting investments and touching the lives of the people of the state.
At a press conference in Fugar, Wednesday, Chairman, Etsako Central Local Government Area, Mr John Akhigbe, said local government chairmen and other stakeholders in Edo APC are set to make Obaseki governorship candidate of the APC.
He cited competence, achievements and humility as their principal reasons for endorsing the governor for a second term in office just as he dismissed the purported endorsement of Pastor Ize-Iyamu.
Power Tussle: Oshiomhole, Obaseki Divides APC Members
Akhigbe said, those behind the endorsement of Ize-Iyamu are not members of the APC. “They claimed to be members of APC because they defected from PDP to APC in Ize-Iyamu’s house.
They are also calling themselves ward chairmen and chieftains of the ruling party. Ize-Iyamu is not a member of the All Progressives Congress. Some people went to Ize-Iyamu’s house to defect to APC and contest with Obaseki.”
Endorsing direct primary, they said: “Why is Oshiomhole afraid of indirect primary? If those endorsing Ize-Iyamu are executive members of the APC, let us test our strength in the open field through indirect primary. In Nigeria and other parts of the world, elections are conducted and won at the field.”
Oshiomhole: Learn From Secondus, He Doesn’t control PDP States
However, former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Thomas Okosun, said the endorsement of the chairmen on Governor Obaseki is immaterial because ”endorsement is not victory. Anybody is free to endorse anyone. Are they members of the APC?”