[UPDATED] Edo 2020 Crisis: Obaseki Resigns From APC After Meeting With Buhari

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Tuesday, June 16th, 2020

By Ayo Balogun

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Ahead of the September 2020 governorship election, the embattled Governor of Edo state, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has resigned from his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obaseki disclosed that he resigned membership of the party while speaking with State House Correspondents on Tuesday after visiting the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.

The governor also refuted claims that his school credentials were fake.

African Examiner reports that All Progressives Congress, APC disqualified the governor and two other aspirants from the party’s gubernatorial primary slated for June 22, 2020.

The Chairman of the Screening committee, Prof Jonathan Ayuba, stated that the disqualification was based on the governor’s controversial certificate and age discrepancies.

Similarly, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by its National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, has approved the reports of its screening and appeal committees that disqualified Mr Obaseki.

As a result of this, it is believed that Governor Obaseki may decamp and run under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the September governorship election.

‘Where Obaseki Goes, I go’ –Deputy Governor

Also, the Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Tuesday in Benin announced his resignation from the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Shaibu made the announcement during a press briefing, saying that his resignation from the ruling party took immediate effect.

He said: “It is with pain that I am leaving the APC I helped to build. It’s very unfortunate that we have to resign from the party we all laboured for.

“The party we built with our blood, our strength. The party we believed that was built with progress of our land.

“I resigned today with pains and I am resigning to take my destiny in my hand. But by the grace of God, where Governor Godwin Obaseki goes I go. And by the grace of God, we shall conquer.”

I’ll Not Move with Obaseki –Factional APC Chairman

Meanwhile, Mr Anselm Ojezua, factional Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, says he will not be leaving the party with the governor.

Ojezua is leading a faction of the APC loyal to Gov. Godwin Obaseki.

He said this in a telephone chat with newsmen on his next line of action, following Obaseki’s resignation from the APC after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

Ojezua said he would not move with the governor as he was elected as chairman of APC with a four-year mandate, which would expire in 2022.

“I won’t move. As you can see, I still have my mandate as the elected party chairman of APC in Edo which expires by 2020, and I intend to complete that mandate,” he said.

‘Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish’

But, retired Col David Imuse, factional APC Chairman loyal to Mr Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the party, described Obaseki’s resignation from the party as a welcome development.

Imuse said: “Infact it is much expected and it is a good riddance to bad rubbish.

“The party remains the party, we are preparing for our party primaries. So by Monday all of you should be prepared to witness the direct primaries which is going to be a seamless operation.