Edo elections: Tussle and political crisis abound

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Hawa Umoru

As the Edo State gubernatorial election slated for September 19, 2020 draws close, the controversies and crises within the state’s ruling party keeps increasing by the day.

It was reported earlier on, that the party had agreed on an indirect primary election for its selection of the governorship candidate. However, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by its National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole argues it should be in a direct election.

In a statement by the Deputy Governor’s aide, Benjamin Atu, Phillip Shaibu accused Oshiomhole of trying to take control of the state.

Shaibu said, “The APC national chairman is insisting on direct primary because the result of the yet to be conducted direct primary election is already written by him, just waiting to be announced. The state is sovereign but not enjoying its sovereignty because some few people are determined to ruin the state by hand twisting the government and Governor as a stooge”. He added; “What the APC national chairman is doing, is trying to usurp the powers of the state governor by thinking and making decisions for the government of Edo State”.

It can be noted that the Federal High Court in Edo State has restrained anyone from the ruling party from conducting any form of Primary Election until June 11, a date that the case has been adjourned to.

What followed in Edo state was that, Obaseki the sitting governor and Oshiomhole attacked each other over the authenticity of their first-degree certificates – the former governor of Edo state expressed doubt in the authenticity of the governor’s certificate, during the inauguration of the party’s screening and appeal committee for the state’s governorship primaries.

He said; “Someone should approach the UI and end this matter once and for all. If the certificate Obaseki parades is that of the UI, find out how did he passed the senate screening of those days. I’m aware that in those days when this man never dreamt of becoming a governor, every student, no matter your status or your family name, must pass the screening.

It is done every third term at the UNN (University of Nigeria Nsukka), then we ran terminal not semester programme. The final screening was in the third year before you go in for your final year.

How come the UI allowed him then? Did he do a remedial, which was not unlikely? These are the questions. Many came in, especially in education and linguistics, did remedial for one year and if the result was good, gained direct entry and graduated three years after.”

In a reply, the governor released a statement through his spokesman, Crusoe Osagie, challenging Oshiomhole to go for confirmation by himself. He further said, “We have said before, these allegations are baseless and come to think of it; which university did (Adams) Oshiomhole attend to know what the admission process is like? The responsibility of setting guidelines for admission into a university rests on the Senate of the institution. The lecturers who taught the governors are still alive and the institution is still there.”

What is confusing about the type of politics being played here is that, the masses now do not understand which of the statesmen have the interest of the state at heart – be it the ruling state governor or the APC National Chairman. Which of them is ready to serve diligently and not for selfish gains?

As was obvious, they are both in the same political party but were trying by all possible means to bring themselves down, even going extra lengths to do so.

Meanwhile, the opposition party in the state has concluded its indirect primary election, stating that delegates will determine the flag bearer of the party. The party’s National public secretary, Kola Ologbodinyan said at a media briefing in Abuja, “The PDP under the leadership of Prince Uche Secondus, will ensure transparency and that a candidate out of the eminently qualified aspirants, that is acceptable to the Edo people, emerges.

“The PDP will be choosing our candidate for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections through an indirect primary” The PDP National Secretary said.

In a dramatic turn of events, Obaseki was then disqualified from the primary elections due to ‘alleged fake certificate’, and the APC party members began warming up to support Pastor Osagie Ize-iyamu as the party’s flag bearer for the forthcoming elections.

Subsequently, Obaseki visited Governor Wike (PDP) in Port harcourt. This was made known when Governor Wike released pictures of them together on his official Twitter handle.

Although the reason for the visit was not made public , speculations are going round that he may have gone there for political consultation. In the past, Wike has experienced similar political friction and successfully won a battle against APC to win his reelection in Rivers State.

Also, immediately after the meeting with Gov. Wike, Obaseki announced that he is leaving the APC party, but has not defected to another party. He noted in a tweet; “I have not moved to a new platform to seek reelection, my focus now is to control the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which is ravaging our country and threatening our health Care system. Stay safe”

Shortly after the resignation of Obaseki from the APC, the court then upheld the suspension of Oshiomhole as party chairman. In a statement dated June 16, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, then said that a decision to name Abiola Ajimobi as the acting national chairman of APC became imperative following the appeal court judgement.

“Guided by advice from the party’s legal department in line with the provisions of Section 14.2. (iii) of the party’s constitution, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Abiola Ajimobi, will serve as the party’s acting national chairman” he announced.

However, Chief Victor Giadom kicked against the decision of the NWC, citing that by going with an earlier court pronouncement, he should be the interim national chairman of the party.

In a statement by his counsel, Chief Wole Afolabi, he swiftly demanded compliance with the order of the FCT High Court of March 16, 2020 by Hon. Justice S.U Bature that he, Giadom, is to act as the national chairman of the party due to the suspension of Oshiomhole. He further explained that the Justice’s order of 16th of March still remains valid now that the court has affirmed the order of suspension of Oshiomhole, thereby rendering Ajimobi’s appointment null and void.

The court has cautioned APC on the announcement of Ajimobi which goes against the order of the court that states that Giadom is the APC chairman not Ajimobi.

It is also worthy of note that Ajimobi is in reportedly in coma as he battles with a disease (likely to be COVID-19). All these twists and turns show that the APC leadership is rather discombobulated in Edo state and by extension Nationwide.

Back in Edo state, the people of Etsako East and West local government are obviously happy about twists and turns, especially the suspension of APC National Chairman Oshiomhole, (an indigene of the local government area),as they are seen coming out in numbers jubilating, dancing, drumming and celebrating his suspension. “I hope he gets removed totally” they exclaim as they sing happily along the busy Benin/Okene Express way.

Also, the resignation of the state’s Governor and his deputy, which is due to the fact that the APC party leadership refused them tickets for the primary elections, played a major role in arousing the anger of other party members in the state.

Engr. Akemokue Lukman of Etsako East issued his own resignation letter dated 16th June, 2020 and simply gave his reason for the immediate resignation as: “Are you aware that Obaseki and Shaibu have resigned from APC? Ok, take your broom,I nor do again”.

Evidence point to the ideology that, the people are tired of bad governance and godfatherism, but also it seems that the people are on their own as the politicians here do not seem to be fighting for the masses but for personal benefit and for the advancement of their own political career.

This is evolving into a really tough time for the ruling APC party because, the confusion depicts an obvious lack of internal cooperation and opposition parties are already seen banking on the persisting disagreements.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Marvelous. My suggestion is the people of Edo should leave parties and vote for the person in particular. We should leave this idea of the winning party and vote for the right person.

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