Edo 2016: Obaseki Withdraws from APC Primaries

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News, Politics Tuesday, June 7th, 2016

Oyewale Oyelola

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – A governorship aspirant of All Progressives Party (APC) in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, Mr Don Obaseki on Monday withdrew from APC primaries slated for June 18, 2016.

Mr Don Obaseki in a statement made available to journalists in Benin City alleged that all the 3000 delegates have been bribed with N600 million.

He however assured his supporters that he will run under another political party.

Obaseki, a nephew to another APC governorship aspirant, Godwin Obaseki favoured by Governor Oshiomole told journalists that APC leadership in the state cannot conduct any credible, free and fair primary.

The statement reads in part:

“I have lost faith in the APC primaries process. Unfortunately, I was in Abuja on Thursday and I stumbled on a document that I cannot divulge to the public for security reasons that makes it clear that all those who are buying or who had bought their forms to contest the primaries of the APC are wasting their time.

“As an academic and someone who is guided by thesis antithesis and syntheses, I elected to withdraw my intention to contest the primaries of APC, I will not tell you that I am no longer a member of the APC but I am more interested in being an E.D.O. (Empower, Develop and Opportunities) man than an APC man, I will rather be an EDO man than being a PDP. I am not running for the election as an APC candidate anymore, I am running for the election as EDO candidate on September 10.

“I have therefore, embarked on wide consultations with my immediate and extended family, supporters, friends and well-wishers and I won’t advise any of the aspirants to pay the whole sum of N5,500,000 for the expression of interest, and nomination forms of the APC. The coming primaries of APC will be the most expensive in our history because there are plans to bribe the about 3,000 delegates with N200,000 each.

“I am undoubtedly running for, and shall contest the 2016 Edo governorship election slated for September 10, 2016.”