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Thu, Mar

Edo Governorship: Tension In PDP Over Move To Grant Obaseki Waiver

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There is a looming crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its move to consider giving the embattled Governor Godwin Obaseki waiver as the candidate of the main opposition in the state ahead of the September gubernatorial election in the Edo state. Obaseki was disqualified by the All Progressive Congress (APC) on Friday from contesting on the platform of its party, allegedly over his continued feud with the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

Alternatively, the governor is set to port into PDP and this most come with a price to both the governor and the PDP. Kola Ologbondiyan, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP stated that “the PDP is in talks with Obaseki and he is in talks with the PDP. Contacts are on between the PDP and Obaseki.

Olagbondiyan added, “But the PDP is a party of processes. So whatever the processes required, the party will abide by it. Our doors are open to all Nigerians. We will not stop Nigerians from joining us, as far as they can abide by our rules.”

DailyTrust reported that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has been assigned with the responsibility of leading other PDP Governors and bigwigs in finalizing Obaseki’s cross-carpeting into the fold of PDP.

He disclosed that Edo state Governor will join the PDP before June 27, 2020 deadline issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for submission of names of candidates by the political parties.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary further explained that while the PDP constitution stipulates that a new member of the party must last for three months before qualifying to contest on the platform of the party, however, the National Executive Council (NEC) which is the highest decision making organ of the party can overrule any law and grant waiver where possible and to whom the party deems fit.

In his statement, “The PDP NEC can meet and grant a waiver to any new member to contest an election. And that is what the party plans to do in the case of Obaseki. And that will be done before the deadline for the submission of names of candidates by political parties,”

He revealed the National Working Committee (NWC) would soon call for an emergency NEC meeting to grant a waiver to Obaseki to contest the party ticket, though no date has been fixed for the meeting yet. 

Another source revealed that the would-be decision of the party is threatening to tear the party apart from as some of the awaiting aspirants on the platform of the PDP have started grumbling. One of the aspirants informed Daily Trust in a telephone chat yesterday that he won’t step down for Obaseki in the event he joined the PDP and is being considered for the ticket.

He said “This will cause a serious crisis because personally, I’m not ready to step down for anyone. I’m in the race to win the election and make life better for the people of Edo state. I obtained the forms for N21 million and it’s not a joke,”.

Meanwhile, Governor Obaseki yesterday visited Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State at the Government House, Port Harcourt, and had a closed-door meeting with him. The meeting was alleged to be part of the preparation of accepting Obaseki into the main opposition party.

However, progressive governors of the APC have continued to remain mute over the disqualification of Obaseki. The governors after a teleconference meeting on Saturday have unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to work for the unity of the party.

The governors however resolved to, “collectively to work to ensure strengthening of a fair and democratic internal party mechanism for the selection of party candidates in all elections, especially in respect of Edo and Ondo States 2020 Governorship elections. “Forum members are confident that the party will resolve all current challenges and emerge stronger.”

In a similar manner, members of the faction loyal to Obaseki APC in the state held a meeting where they unanimously resolved that the government should seek a different political party to run for the election.

Speaking to newsmen after the meeting in a telephone interview, the Chairman of the faction, Anslem Ojezua, stated, “We all supported and agreed that he should move to another platform to realize his ambition.”

However, the faction loyal to Oshiomhole in Edo state has recommended the expulsion of Obaseki to the National Working Committee (NWC) from the party. Addressing newsmen, the acting chairman of the faction, David Imus, said he was recommended for expulsion for violating article 21, sub-section D5 of the APC constitution.

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