I have not moved to PDP – Obaseki

By John Aigbehi

The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said he hasn’t moved to a new party yet to seek reelection.

Recall that they’ve been rumours of the governor moving to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP having been suspended from his current party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Obaseki who stated this on Wednesday morning via his official Twitter page, said his focus is to control the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

“I have not moved to a new platform yet to seek re-election.

READ ALSO: Social Media Influencer, 4 Others in custody for Yahoo-Yahoo

“My focus now is to control the spread of the coronavirus (#COVID19) pandemic, which is ravaging our country and threatening our healthcare system”, Obaseki tweeted via @GovernorObaseki.

Last week Saturday, June 13, 2020, PDP denied the rumour of Obaseki being a member of the party.

This was disclosed by the chairman of the party in Edo state, Hon. Tony Aziegbemi, during a popular programme, ‘The Weekend Show’ on Africa Independent Television, AIT.

READ ALSO: First Bank staff arrested for stealing N18 million from ATM

Aziegbemi noted that Obaseki has not joined the PDP as at that Saturday. “As we speak, His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki has not joined the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP”, he said.

However, he said the party will welcome Obaseki if he decides to join the PDP after he was disqualified by the All Progressives Congress, APC from participating in the forthcoming primary of the party.

Hon. Aziegbemi added that Obaseki will not be able to participate in the party’s primary except the National Working Committee, NWC of PDP grants him a waiver.

He maintained that Obaseki will not get automatic ticket, even, if granted waiver by the NWC, stressing that he will have to battle it out with other governorship aspirants in the party.

Recalled that Obaseki was disqualified by the screening committee of the APC on Friday, June 12, 2020, due to his feud with Adams Oshiomhole.

His disqualification was said to be due to discrepancies in his results.

Obaseki and his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who is also the National Chairman of APC, have been at loggerheads over the governor’s second term bid and other issues.

The feud between Obaseki and Oshiomhole has polarised the party in Edo State.

The faction loyal to Oshiomhole endorsed Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as its consensus candidate for the June 22 governorship primary election of the party.

The feud between the duo has also polarised other organs of the ruling party.

Obaseki asked Oshiomhole to recuse himself from the nomination processes of the primary but the party did not act on his request.