Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
The Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Tony Aziegbemi, has declared that Governor Godwin Obaseki and all his loyalists were set to join the party.
But now, the APC Governors are making a fresh last minute effort and hope to get the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari to settle this lingering issue so that Obaseki would remain in the APC. The outcome of this last minute effort of the APC Governors is still being awaited.
In fact, some people believe that Obaseki was unfairly treated and disqualified mainly because of his clash with Oshiomhole. This reason comes to the fore going by the points made by Obaseki that Oshiomhole is an interested party in the Edo election and has refused to rescue himself from the process. According to Obaseki, Oshiomhole made himself a judge in his own case. So, some people now view it that Obaseki was unfairly treated and this may make some of the Edo people to give Obaseki more votes in sympathy and solidarity following his ordeals.
Tony Aziegbemi said Obaseki’s deputy, Philip Shuaibu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) chapter would also defect. The party leader made the disclosure while exchanging views with news men on Monday in Benin. Aziegbemi said the governor, “his deputy and the entire APC structure in the state will be joining PDP soon”. The chairman disclosed that they have been in touch “in the last few days”. Aziegbemi assured that by Tuesday, he would “be able to confirm the exact date he (Obaseki) will be joining, along with his team.”
He added that he was not “aware that the governor has obtained our party’s membership card. “I can also say that there is no automatic ticket in the offing for him at all”, Aziegbemi said.
In any case, Obaseki is a big fish. He is an incumbent Governor with good support and resources to battle for his second term. But, it looks very likely that PDP will give Obaseki the opportunity to contest on its platform because that presents the party the golden opportunity to fight harder with the hope of grabbing Edo from the APC. If the PDP does not do that, it may be very hard for it to win the state.
But, if the PDP gives Obaseki the opportunity to run under its platform, it is most likely that it will beat the APC. This is because the PDP is very strong to challenge the APC and having another strong candidate like Obaseki will give the party another edge. Finally, Obaseki will most likely get sympathy votes of those that are angry with the manner he was treated by the APC. Obaseki will as well get the votes of those hoping to support him to stop god-fatherism in Edo State.
With Obaseki joining PDP, this is what PDP will now have two Senators out of 3 (plus their supporters), six House of Reps members out of 9 (plus their supporters); All 18 LGA Chairmen (plus their supporters); 12 House of Assembly Members out of 24 (plus their supporters); Top leaders of APC joining the PDP (plus their supporters); The power and resources of an incumbent Governor (plus his supporters, fans and sympathy voters); South-South becoming all PDP Governors and their full support; The State treasury
The State security apparatchik; The Oba of Benin is allegedly smiling towards his direction.
And now he has Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, a proven political fighter especially against godfatherism. Oshiomole has Pastor Izeyamu and the 14 non functional House Members that weren’t sworn in. In his possession is also some social media APC zealots and APC gubernatorial screening committee.
Culled from: The Town crier
