Guber Poll: Oyegun Says Buhari Endorsed Obaseki, Akeredolu’s Return As APC Settles For Direct Primary, Grants Ize-Iyamu Waiver To Contest

Former national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Thursday urged the party to give Governor Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) second term tickets in line with a recent peace deal.

In the alternative, he said, free and fair primaries should be held.

“I welcome most warmly the news that Mr. President has firmly endorsed the agreement reached to settle the disruptive leadership crisis at the national level that was threatening the very existence of the All Progressives Congress.

“The immediate relevant part of that agreement was that both governors; Mr. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki of Edo State and Mr. Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN), of Ondo State having performed creditably and should be returned, unless they do not so wish.

“This means that the party, in unity, should organise to support the return of both governors.”

Odigie-Oyegun who is also a former governor of Edo State, hoped and prayed that a consensus could be built behind Governor Obaseki because “he has not offended any aspect of the APC’s constitution nor has he in any way brought the party to disrepute.

“He has performed in an exemplary manner. In his time, there has been peace and freedom for the ordinary Edo man and woman from harassment by official thugs.

“Through him, Edo State must prove that our democracy can only survive if we do not create a situation where an individual or a small group can make or unmake our governors or other elected officials at will.”

However, he said if consensus could not be built behind the incumbent Obaseki “everything must be done to ensure that the persons in the leadership of the party at the centre, who are part of the contrived crisis in Edo State, must not even remotely be allowed to plan, participate or supervise the primary election.

“It is of critical importance that the primary be seen, even by a blind man, to be free and fair otherwise there could be political consequences.

“Allowing any member(s) of the national leadership who have been involved in the contrived crisis in Edo State would equate to making such person or persons judges in their own case.

“This is contrary to the principle of natural justice and will be naturally resisted.”

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has adopted the direct primary model to select a candidate for governorship election in the state. The direct primary model is where all registered members of the party vote directly for their preferred aspirant.

The primary has been scheduled for June 22, 2020.

The National Working Committee of the party at a meeting Thursday also granted a waiver to one of the aspirants, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the party, is scheming to ensure emerges the party’s candidate ahead of incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki. Oshiomhole and Obaseki have been engaged in a protracted battle over the control of power in the state.

According to THEWILL report, the direct primary model is easier to manipulate because the system is managed in such a manner that arbitrary figures are allotted to whoever the party’s establishment wants to win. The delegates system, where ranking party members choose the candidate, is often more transparent though costs the aspirants a whole lot of money in lobbying for votes.

Obaseki and the state chapter of the party are expected to reject the direct primary option when it is formally announced by the party’s headquarters.

Oshiomhole has been accused of godfatherism and highhandedness in his handling of party affairs.