Politics
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared the party’s door open for Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki following his disqualification from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election ahead of the state’s guber poll.
Newsheadline247 understands the embattled governor is also considering running on the platform of another party to realize his second-term ambition.
A screening panel set up by the APC, headed by Prof Jonathan Ayuba, disqualified Obaseki from participating in the party’s June 22 primary hinging reasons on the discrepancies in his names and certificates and for taking the party to court in contravention of the party’s rules.
Ayuba, in the report received by the National Chairman of the party, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, noted that Obaseki claimed to have obtained a Higher School Certificate from the Institute of Continuing Education in Benin but that he did not produce the certificate and that the document he produced only attested to his attendance.
He added that the governor’s National Youth Service Corps certificate reads ‘Obasek Godwin’ and that while this could be an error on the part of NYSC, the governor never took any step “to correct the anomaly.”
Obaseki, in reaction to his disqualification, however, vowed not to appeal the party’s verdict.
The screening committee also disqualified two other aspirants, Chris Ogiemwonyi and Mathew Iduoriyekenwen from participating in the party primary ahead of the September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state.
Those cleared to take part in the primary were Mr Osaro Obaze, Dr Pius Odubu and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Ize-Iyamu is widely believed to be Oshiomhole’s preferred candidate.
Obaseki and Oshiomhole had been at loggerheads over irreconcilable political differences.
In reaction to Obaseki’s disqualification, the national leadership of the opposition party, PDP declared the party’s doors open for the governor but it was not clear if the governor would get an automatic ticket in the party if he decides to run on its platform.
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Reports also indicate that the governor might be considering joining the PDP given that it is the only party that has the structure both in the state and at the national level.
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