On Friday, the All Progressives Congress, APC shockingly announced the disqualification of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, from the party’s primaries scheduled to hold on June 22.
This development has put a major stumbling block on Obaseki’s path to second term as Governor. POLITICS NIGERIA understands that Obaseki’s current travails originate from his rift with his predecessor and political godfather, Adams Oshiomhole.
Oshiomhole’s quarrel with Obaseki was so intense that the former would have almost lost his position as National Chairman of the party after the latter almost staged a ‘palace coup’ along with some disgruntled elements in the party’s leadership structure.
It was further gathered that Obaseki was disqualified by a screening panel constituted by the party to clear contenders for the party’s ticket ahead of Edo State governorship election later this year.
The governor’s disqualification, which was hinged on allegations that he had a problematic academic certificate. The panel stated that Obaseki’s HSC and NYSC certificates were ‘defective’.
However, Obaseki has since reacted to the development, stating that he will not contest the position of the party. This has fueled speculations that he may ‘defect’ to another party in order to contest for a second term.
Oshiomhole currently pitched his camp with Osagie Ize Iyamu, a former guber candidate of the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Ize Iyamu was cleared by the party’s screening panel shortly after Obaseki’s disqualification which serves as ‘proof’ that Oshiomhole has a hand in the governor’s current travails.
