Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

There are indications that ahead of next year’s governorship election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is seeking to take advantage of the crisis between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sources told Daily Independent that the leaders of the PDP at the national and state levels are making overtures to Obaseki to decamp and get the party’s ticket if it was denied him by the APC.

While the Edo State chapter of the APC is solidly behind the governor, our correspondent gathered that Oshiomhole, who has publicly accused the governor of illegality in the inauguration of the state’s House of Assembly and abandonment of uncompleted projects, may use his influence as the national chairman of the party to deny the governor the ticket next year.

Dan Orbih, the Edo State chairman of the PDP, declined to comment on the issue, saying he didn’t want to speak on it on telephone.

However, speaking with our correspondent, a member of the PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) said, as a sitting governor, Obaseki would be an asset to any political party, the reason political parties in the state were desirous of having him run on their platform.

“There is no political party that will not want a sitting governor who will likely seek re-election to join its fold.

“The desire of any political party is to be the governing party. So, our door is open to the governor, but we are waiting to see how the development goes. The election is still months away,” he said.

When contacted, Barr. Anselm Ojezua, the Edo State chairman of the APC, said he was confident that no matter what happened, Governor Obaseki would never leave the party for the PDP or any other political party.

Ojezua, who likened the APC to a ship and PDP to a boat, said rather than join any other party, members of the other political parties who are impressed with the governor’s performance would come and join him in the APC.

“I will be very surprised if the governor accepts PDP’s invitation to join them? How can he jump from a ship to a boat?

“The APC in Edo today is a large ship while the PDP is a boat. He cannot join the PDP. It is the PDP who will come and join him in his party, the APC.

“Obaseki is very comfortable in the APC. He has justified the confidence that the electorate in Edo have reposed in him.
“It also shows that the APC made a good choice when we chose him to be the flag bearer of the party.

“What is happening now is good news to APC. If every party wants him, it means that his re-election will be a fait accompli,” he said.
In a related development, concerned political leaders in Edo have described as ignorant those saying Obaseki would receive the Ambode treatment when he decides to seek re-election.
Festus Etokhana, one of the APC leaders in Edo State, said the Ambode treatment cannot work in Edo State because unlike the former governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, who was rejected by the APC leaders in Lagos, Obaseki enjoys the support of Edo APC leaders.
“There are many reasons why Obaseki can’t get the Ambode treatment in Edo.

“One, the politics of Edo is very different from Lagos politics. Two, the governor enjoys the support of Edo APC leaders; Ambode did not.
“Even when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu wanted to pardon him, the leaders said they will revolt against him.

“In Edo here, 80 percent of APC members are with Obaseki. The State Exco, led by the party chairman, are solidly behind him.
“Many elders of the party rose in his defence when this issue started. So, how will he get the Ambode treatment here in Edo?” Etokhana asked.
On the accusation that the governor was ungrateful to those who assisted him to get to power, he said: “Honestly, I think those accusing Governor Obaseki of being disloyal are making a grave mistake because they are not conversant with what is happening in Edo.

“Do you know the role Governor Obaseki played in his emergence as national chairman? Even Oshiomhole has admitted himself that God used Obaseki in his becoming the governor Of Edo State.

“Let me take you back a bit. When INEC declared that the PDP and Senator Osereimen Osunbor won the 2007 governorship election in Edo State, Oshiomhole was confused and resigned to fate.

“It was Obaseki that approached him and said: “Let us go to court, there are enough evidence that you won.

“Oshiomhole replied that he had no money to prosecute the case in court because he had exhausted all his money in the governorship election.

“Again, Obaseki asked him not to worry and he used his influence in the business world to rally people who raised the funds which Oshiomhole used in prosecuting the election.

“As God will have it, Oshiomhole won in court and when he was sworn in, he appointed Obaseki as head of his economic team.

“Up till when he became national chairman, they had no issues. This whole issue started after he became national chairman because he started acting in strange ways.

“I think there is this Abuja influence that usually comes upon our politicians, because the whole trouble started when he became national chairman and relocated to Abuja.He started acting in strange ways, giving orders to everybody, from governors to ministers. You all heard when he said if President Buhari condoned indiscipline, he won’t”.

https://www.independent.ng/edo-2020-pdp-mounts-pressure-on-obaseki-to-defect/

2 ugly governors of Edo state....
A. Leader is the truth reflection of the people ...
Edo people have issues with beauty ... I may be wrong

Pdp is now a mushroom party. Really struggling to survive

Obaseki shouldn't thinking of defection.

There are places defection works but not in Edo state...


You will be disappointed.

The electorates are divided and the margin not always strong.


Edo is same as ekiti as ondo as kwara as ogun in their political thinking.


For me Obaseki should remain in APC and shrug it out with oshiomhole.

If i am Obaseki, i will bar Oshiomhole from entering Edo state, jail Kabaka and his thugs for life

helinues:
Pdp is now a mushroom party. Really struggling to survive

You are too old for this empty comment. PDP a mushroom party? Does your sense come and go sometimes?

ChoCho54:
You are too old for this empty comment. PDP a mushroom party? Does your sense come and go sometimes?

Ok they are end of the year party then..

If Obaseki flips, APC should just forget Edo state.
Of the 3 Senatorial Districts in Edo, PDP have Esan. Obaseki is a Benin man. With Edo central joining with Edo south, the game would be over for APC.

PDP is stronger than APC in Edo. Forget say na APC dey rule the state

helinues:
Pdp is now a mushroom party. Really struggling to survive

hisexcellency34:
PDP is stronger than APC in Edo. Forget say na APC dey rule the state

No wonder Pdp have majority of reps and senators from Edo state

Oporrr

Hmm

helinues:


No wonder Pdp have majority of reps and senators from Edo state

very true, but obaseki will win wether he's in APC or PDP we don't care.

We don't play politics like mumu

Really

Nkan n be

if he defects to PDP...that will be the end of apc in Edo state.....obaseki is the only reason why Edo people still reason APC


obaseki is the only good man in Edo apc

Igbosmoker:
nyamiri face your kerosine sharing governors and leave Edo state for Edo people.

Good governance can't work in Igbo land because they behave like Cameroonians(which their fore father's are from). They prefer kerosine to good governance

Just don't die of pain...lol

Next.

Igbosmoker:
very true, but obaseki will win wether he's in APC or PDP we don't care.

We don't play politics like mumu

Obaseki is one of the performing governors in Nigeria.. He is a silent achievers.. He deserves second term

Okay

Give us Wike and take Obaseke and Makinde

And Sell Wadata Plaza to Tinubu as we need it for 2023

Taink Uu

..

MelesZenawi:





Just don't die of pain...lol

Next.

just don't die of Edo matter. Since you love pushing Edo to Yoruba(which is good by the way) I'll also push Igbo to their Bantu brothers in Cameroon

MelesZenawi:
Obaseki shouldn't thinking of defection.

There are places defection works but not in Edo state...


You will be disappointed.

The electorates are divided and the margin not always strong.


Edo is same as ekiti as ondo as kwara as ogun in their political thinking.


For me Obaseki should remain in APC and shrug it out with oshiomhole.

lol...obaseki is the only reason APC is relevant in Edo state...have u noticed that almost all reps and senators from edo are PDP??....obaseki is the only stronghold in apc.we Edo people live him

Edo politics!









Anyways, I sell cheap and super neat laptops with free delivery and pay on delivery.


Details on signature

that obaseki is a man. Edo belongs to all her citizens. oga dwarf don use His own time na

Obaseki is in a good place.
PDP is strong in Edo.

No matter where he goes, he is winning.