Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, met with Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Abuja Tuesday night to enlist his support for Asue Ighodalo’s governorship bid, TheCable understands.

Ighodalo is seeking the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state in the February 22, 2024 primary election.

The meeting took place at Wells Carlton Hotel, Abuja, and was attended by Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa state, who came with Obaseki.

RECONCILIATION MOVE

TheCable understands that Obaseki's peace moves were informed by the reality of a strong opposition from Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a former member of the house of reps and the preferred candidate of Dan Orbih, Wike's key ally in Edo state.

There is also the challenge from Philip Shaibu, the current deputy governor.

Although Ighodalo has expressed confidence in winning the party’s ticket, going into the primary against Ogbeide-Ihama and Shaibu is viewed in Obaseki’s camp as a delicate game.

At the meeting with Wike, Obaseki was said to have sought "reconciliation" and apologised for previous misunderstanding between them.

Ighodalo would be willing to pick Ogbeide-Ihama as his running mate, according to the deal offered by Obaseki.

Wike reportedly told him point-blank that he would not have any dealings with him as he is not known to have kept faith with anyone that assisted him in the past.

The former governor of Rivers state demanded a "level-playing field so that most acceptable candidate can win", sources in the know told TheCable.

THE BACKGROUND

Obaseki fell out with Wike in 2020 shortly after defecting to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and securing his new party’s governorship ticket to run for second term.

He had left the APC after a face-off with Adams Oshiomhole, who decided to back Ize Iyamu, formerly of the PDP, in the 2020 governorship election.

Obaseki won his re-election bid but fell out with Wike thereafter.

In the presidential primary of the PDP ahead of the 2023 general election, Obaseki backed Abubakar Atiku against Wike for the ticket.

After Atiku controversially won the presidential primary, Wike led a group of five governors, named G5, to work against the party's candidate.

emkz:
Governor Obaseki seems to have problems keeping relationships. All politics is local. He should find a way to work with Dan Orbih of the legacy group and reach a common ground. Dan Orbih is a nice guy and had been in this game longer than Obaseki.

After taking out a full newspaper publication to lambast then Governor Wike, it is strange that Obaseki now goes to ask Wike to intercede on his behalf. It was even Obaseki's mouth that we heard Wike would be contesting the PDP presidential primaries and Obaseki threatened Wike with "we shall see".

This is the wrongest time to mend fences. Obaseki presents himself as a user. He ought to have reconciled with these people as soon as he won his second term, but he waited until he had use for them.

There is absolutely no political intelligence in such a move.

Asue Ighodosky, I advice you reach out to Dan Orbih, Wike and Ogbeide-Ihama and convince them on your own to show you wouldn't be a user like Obaseki. You are a good candidate but the Obaseki belligerent baggage is likely going to be your albatross.

Meet Wike and Dan Orbih and make concessions. You are a boardroom guru. Negotiation is obviously a piece of cake for you.

We want you as Edo Governor.

emkz:

vanitybutiwanti:
Same fate awaits fubara and his emergency lovers. Dan orbih is in charge of the delegate list for the primaries, he can easily swap the names to accommodate pro iyama voters in the primaries. obaseki knows better that's why he's seeking for a reconciliation

fergie001:
You think they will listen to him?
Orbih has rebuffed any meeting with GO and said all should go to the field, hence his meeting their 'oga'.

GO offered Deputy or SSG, and they said NO.

Ogbeide-Ihama is from Edo South, infact from the same LGA as Obaseki as well and was one of those who fell at the Primaries thanks to Obaseki & Ayu.

The plan is to do giveaway like Samuel Anyanwu.

fergie001:
You think they will listen to him?
Orbih has rebuffed any meeting with GO and said all should go to the field, hence his meeting their 'oga'.

GO offered Deputy or SSG, and they said NO.

Ogbeide-Ihama is from Edo South, infact from the same LGA as Obaseki as well and was one of those who fell at the Primaries thanks to Obaseki & Ayu.

The plan is to do giveaway like Samuel Anyanwu.

fergie001:
You think they will listen to him?
Orbih has rebuffed any meeting with GO and said all should go to the field, hence his meeting their 'oga'.

GO offered Deputy or SSG, and they said NO.

Ogbeide-Ihama is from Edo South, infact from the same LGA as Obaseki as well and was one of those who fell at the Primaries thanks to Obaseki & Ayu.

The plan is to do giveaway like Samuel Anyanwu.

fergie001:
You think they will listen to him?
Orbih has rebuffed any meeting with GO and said all should go to the field, hence his meeting their 'oga'.

GO offered Deputy or SSG, and they said NO.

Ogbeide-Ihama is from Edo South, infact from the same LGA as Obaseki as well and was one of those who fell at the Primaries thanks to Obaseki & Ayu.

The plan is to do giveaway like Samuel Anyanwu.

emkz:
Asue Ighodalo can negotiate more sensibly than Obaseki. He needs to meet them and keep meeting them.

For one thing, we agree that Edo South is the biggest and most populated senatorial district in Edo State. We have no doubt that there are competent men to lead our state there, and Ogbeide-Ihama is obviously competent. But let the Esans have it, and the best candidate across board is Asue Ighodalo.

This man distinguished himself in his law practice and as a corporate guru. We can attest and feel his impact within Edo State and on a national scale. We are glad that people like him are coming out to run Edo State. I'd have wished he is made economic adviser to the president so he can serve on a larger scale.

We must pay attention to leadership recruitment and Edo State is a litmus test here.

Whatever negotiations need to be done to give Asue the PDP ticket must be done, and timely too.

vanitybutiwanti:
Orbih faction is ready to match obaseki Dollar for Dollar at the primaries

fergie001:

Who is Asue to contest Governorship in Edo?
Don't you see how it looks?
I bring you as my person to contest, you now leave me to go and negotiate with the people I am trying to negotiate, that means you have started Fubara-ing before you enter. I will pull the plug on you with immediate effect.

Asue has made it clear through his 'Oga', he will pick any of them for Deputy, and they have simply said NO.


This has been my point 101%.


I know the man, his competence isn't in doubts.

But let me make it clearer, I don't think the problem here is the PDP ticket. Obaseki can simply muscle himself in that one if need be, the PDP NWC at this stage needs money so whomever they send down will just come there to take money and go back.

Mutfwang who is leading the adhoc ward delegates will not hit his colleague-brother, less likely.

The bigger election is the problem, where the anti-Party will be historic.

vanitybutiwanti:
Mutfwang is wikes man, his election was funded by wike, Obaseki knows better, reason he had to meet the one who calls the shot.

fergie001:


You want to match a Governor dollar for dollar, how much Dem get?

Only the Presidency can take out a Governor who wants to have his way.

fergie001:

I edited, the PDP has not named anyone.... Mutfwang was Chairman of the screening Committee.

A Governor will only chair the Primaries but the main election is how they get the Ward Delegates and the thinking of the NWC. Obaseki will likely want to do it how he did before the General Election and I believe the Orbih people will have learnt one or two.

vanitybutiwanti:
Dey play, how much Edo state get, can he spend $10m for the primaries alone? He knows better that's why he's trying to negotiate. How much him chop for Edo state, when fct and nddc still dey game?

vanitybutiwanti:
Even if his candidates wins the primaries men still dey wait for the main election, somehow he still has to pacify wike. REC is Anugbam, wikes cousin.

fergie001:

You think he is negotiating because of money?
Very funny....

Obaseki is negotiating because the NWC decides the adhoc ward delegates list that will be used for the Primaries, even if it is cooked in someone's parlour. Anyone the NWC approves is final.

The last election, both parties cooked, Ayu was pro-Obaseki and accepted his own. Now, Wike partly has a foothold and is now in Abuja so Obaseki is trying to make sure whomever they send does not do a Gulak.

vanitybutiwanti:
Ayu had nothing to do with the last election, wike had to plead with the other group to give way for obaseki in his primaries, he said it in his new year luncheon, infact he asked ihama and orbih to stand while he narrated the story to the people In attendance. I also got feelers that obaseki paid the legacy group 6b, problem started when he failed to appoint the 4 commisioners as agreed in the meeting.

CilicMarin:


What do you think will happen at the primaries?

CilicMarin:
What do you think will happen at the primaries?

fergie001:

He is telling a lie. Of course, politicians lie... He pleaded yet they pursued it to the Supreme Court or you didn't know the Apex Court ruled on it less than 2 months before the election?

The Federal High Court, under Justice Inyang Ekwo, upheld Orbih's list, that is why Obaseki did not attend the Presidential Primaries and his people also did not attend, it was Orbih's people that voted.

Obaseki's people appealed and the Appeal Court declined Jurisdiction and held that the Party was Supreme but did not make any consequential order.

Orbih's people now approached the Supreme Court for interpretation, the Apex Court affirmed Obaseki 's list and held that the NWC's decision is FINAL. So how did he appeal to them, after the Supreme Court judgement?

fergie001:
The truth is that Edo Statw Labour Party is partly sponsored by Obaseki. So you should understand now!

Once the list comes out, everybody now knows his or her level so Asue will not even enter the Primary once the list doesn't favour him.

emkz:


https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-obaseki-moves-to-mend-fences-with-wike-ahead-of-edo-guber-primary/amp

Nlfpmod

fergie001:

He is telling a lie. Of course, politicians lie... He pleaded yet they pursued it to the Supreme Court or you didn't know the Apex Court ruled on it less than 2 months before the election?

The Federal High Court, under Justice Inyang Ekwo, upheld Orbih's list, that is why Obaseki did not attend the Presidential Primaries and his people also did not attend, it was Orbih's people that voted.

Obaseki's people appealed and the Appeal Court declined Jurisdiction and held that the Party was Supreme but did not make any consequential order.

Orbih's people now approached the Supreme Court for interpretation, the Apex Court affirmed Obaseki 's list and held that the NWC's decision is FINAL. So how did he appeal to them, after the Supreme Court judgement?

vanitybutiwanti:
why did obaseki appreciate wike after the election? Why didn't obaseki come out to dispel the 'lies' after wikes speech at the luncheon? Wike specifically said obaseki doesn't keep to agreement in the luncheon, I guess they had to follow through with the cases because obaseki failed to live up to his own part of the bargain in terms of appointments after the elections.

The orbih group had to make an attempt to retain the structure after obaseki renaged on the deal. I hope you know I'm alluding to pdp primaries in Edo state?

vanitybutiwanti:
why did obaseki appreciate wike after the election? Why didn't obaseki come out to dispel the 'lies' after wikes speech at the luncheon? Wike specifically said obaseki doesn't keep to agreement in the luncheon, I guess they had to follow through with the cases because obaseki failed to live up to his own part of the bargain in terms of appointments after the elections.

The orbih group had to make an attempt to retain the structure after obaseki renaged on the deal. I hope you know I'm alluding to pdp primaries in Edo state?

TimeManager:

Obaseki reneged on ALL the agreements, Orbih would have withdrawn the case before it got to the SC if Obaseki had fulfilled his end of the bargain.