APC Screening Committee Disqualifies Obaseki, Two Others

Governor Says He Won't Appeal Disqualification

                      •Obaseki

From Jane Okafor (Abuja) & Monday Osagie (Benin)

The embattled Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki appeared to have had his hope of seeking reelection on the ticket of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) dashed  as the party's Screening Committee for the September Governorship election in the state disqualified him.

The Daily Crucible learnt that the Committee deemed Obaseki unqualified  to contest in the election following alleged discrepancies in his educational certificates and NYSC discharged certificate.

It was learnt that the Screening Committee's decision was predicated on the experience of  the party in Bayelsa State where  after the party Governorship candidate, David Lyon,  had won the Governorship election, the Supreme Court set the victory aside and declared the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Diri Duoye, the winner just hours to Lyon's swearing in.

The Supreme Court  nullified the victory of APC in Bayelsa over certificate issue involving Lyon's Deputy Governor - elect.

It was gathered that the party insisted on being properly guided this time regarding its candidate's credentials and Obaseki's documents were alleged to be fraught with irregularities.

However, the APC screening Committee also declared Hon. Matthew Iduoroyekemwen and Egnr. Chris Ogiemwonyi as unqualified to run but Obaseki's major challenger for the ticket, Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu was cleared. 

It also cleared Dr. Pius Odubu and Hon. Osaro Obazee.

In the last couple of months, the Edo State Governor has been embroiled in a never ebbing battle with his  political benefactor, Com. Adams Oshiomhole, and other party chieftains in the state.

Obaseki recently  took his governorship nomination form to the State House, Abuja, to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari in respect of his seemingly uncertain ticket, ostensibly to shore up his chances but it appears nothing seemed  to be working to his favour for now.

While the visit lasted, Obaseki in an emotion laden voice, was said to have pleaded with President Buhari to intervene over his second ticket issue.

The  political crisis had pitted him against Oshiomhole, who also doubles as the  National Chairman of the All progressives congress (APC).

It was not clear if Buhari had declared his readiness to  save him.

 If today holds the key to tomorrow, it is getting clearer by the day that Pastor Ize-Iyamu, would clinch the party ticket.

Ize - Iyamu hails from the same electoral area - Bini, Edo South, with Obaseki and commands a large following. 

Barely three weeks ago, about seven other aspirants stepped down for him in Abuja and in conjunction with other party chieftains, adopted him as a consensus candidate for the party primary.

Earlier, Governors elected on the platform of the APC had met with the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in one of the last-minute efforts to ensure Obaseki secures the party’s ticket for the forthcoming governorship election in the state but it turned out that the outcome was not encouraging.

The Daily Crucible learnt that Tinubu advised the delegation, to tell all aspirants to prepare for primary as recommended by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC.

The  crisis rocking the party in Edo State which was allegedly engineered by Obaseki, began during the build up to the State Assembly election in 2019 and peaked after the poll with the Governor swearing in 10 members of the elected state lawmakers, leaving 14 others out.

He allegedly instigated moves to sack Oshiomhole from his seat as the National Chairman of the party with the help of some governors and party chieftains but the plot failed.

Today, he is talking about the peace move and unity, ostensibly to get the party ticket for the second time but it appears nobody is listening to him  and with the disqualification status slammed on him by the Screening Committee, it appears as  all hope is dashed concerning Governor Godwin Obaseki.

However, he has said he would not appeal his disqualification from  APC primaries, an act he described as “Oshiomhole’s rascality.”

In a statement by Mr. Crusoe Osagie, his Special Adviser  on Media and Communication Strategy, Obaseki said: “We have watched the mockery of 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.

“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 efforts 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.

“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.”