Politics
Edo APC: Crisis threatens Oshiomhole’s battle against estranged Godson, Obaseki
Adams Oshiomhole, the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, is poised to confront his former godson, Godwin Obaseki, in the struggle for the control of the state’s political machinery.
However, the unfolding drama surrounding the primary election in the state may thwart Mr Oshiomhole’s plans in the latest supremacy battle with Obaseki.
Recall that the APC held a primary election to select the APC governorship candidate for the September election.
However, the primary has produced three candidates as different groups declared separate candidates – namely, Dennis Idahosa, Anamero Dekeri, and Monday Okpebholo.
Oshiomhole, who was outmaneuvered during the 2020 governorship election by Obaseki, endorsed Idahosa for the governorship ticket, with the support of the party’s national leadership led by Umar Ganduje and the APC governors.
Idahosa, a 43-year-old member of the House of Representatives, representing Ovia South/West-Ovia North/East Federal Constituency, is believed to have the backing of his former colleague in the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, the powerful Chief of Staff to the President.
Oshiomhole chose Idahosa because he is from Edo South, the senatorial district with the highest voting population in the state, despite the agitation for a power shift to Edo Central.
Idahosa hails from the same senatorial district as the incumbent governor, who is set to complete his eight-year tenure in office.
Many within the state believe that Edo South holds 60 percent of the total votes in the state, although this claim has faced challenges.
There are indications that Obaseki is supporting the former managing director of Sterling Bank, Asue Ighodalo, from Edo Central Senatorial District.
Oshiomhole is gearing up for a showdown of Edo South versus Edo Central to regain control of the state.
But the emergence of Okpebholo through a parallel primary has changed the dynamics of the permutation.
The candidate, who represents Edo Central Senatorial District, is basing his aspiration on “equity and fairness” because his district is yet to produce a governor since the brief stint of Oserheimen Osunbor from 2007-2008.
Insiders within the camp of the senator told DAILY POST that several meetings were held with other aspirants in the race on the “Edo Central” agenda, with the agenda gaining the support of Ize-Iyamu.
“Senator had a meeting with Ize-Iyamu and was able to convince him on the principle of the rotation of power and the need for a shift to Edo Central to get the opportunity,” Rafat Abdulkareem, one of the associates of Okpebholo, stated.
She said many of the old associates of Oshiomhole also backed the candidacy of the Edo Central lawmaker because they are concerned about the possibility of Edo South having 16 years in power.
Facing a Rivers Experience
Aside from the political permutations, the party may experience a situation similar to the 2019 Rivers State, where the APC was banned from presenting candidates for any election following post-primary election litigation.
Anticipating a situation like Rivers, the National Working Committee of the party invalidated the pronouncement of Idahosa as the candidate and also removed Governor Hope Uzodinma as the chairman of the primary election Committee.
Insiders told DAILY POST that the party was trying to prevent the occurrence of situations like Rivers and Zamfara states with the series of actions taken so far.
It was learnt that Oshiomhole still sees Idahosa as the only pathway to winning the governorship election because Edo Central has very few votes.
The former governor is banking on using Idahosa to deliver Edo South to complement the votes from Edo North, a stronghold of the APC.
While the NWC was meeting, Oshiomhole met with President Bola Tinubu, and after the meeting, he told journalists that the president did not insist on rotation, using Kogi and Benue as examples.
Today, Thursday, the party will be concluding the primary, and the outcome may decide if it’s going to be a proxy war between Oshiomole and Obaseki.
Following the recent development in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), senators elected on the platform of the party, on Thursday took a bold step towards quenching the fire burning their party.
Addressing the press after a closed door session, the Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro PhD said the PDP caucus acknowledged the crisis in the party and had resolved to work with all the critical stakeholders with a view to ending the crisis and restoring peace.
The caucus appealed to all aggrieved persons to sheathe their swords for the sake of the party, promising to make every effort that’s necessary to bring everybody together and make PDP a formidable party that it’s known for.
The caucus called for withdrawal of all litigations in court to make room for more robust discussions that aim to bring lasting peace in the party.
It charged party members to put the interest of the party ahead of all personal interests and work towards strengthening the party and making it a better alternative to the ruling APC that has brought so much pains and hardship on the country, stating that PDP remains the only hope for the suffering Nigerians.
The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of spending funds on projects that were meaningless to residents in the state.
It said the Governor spent N2.4bn on renovations at a time poverty was ravaging the land.
Spokesman for the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement, said Ondo people were unlucky to have a Governor, who approved N1.2bn for the renovation of V.I.P Lodge,
Peretei said the cost of building a new V.I.P Lodge would be less than N1.2b.
He listed the projects to include N293m for the renovation of the Adegbemile Cultural Center, Akure, N90m for the renovation and refurbishing of the office of the Commissioner for Finance and N775m for the renovation of the Government House Gate and perimeter fence.
According to the statement, “How many Ondo State people will benefit from a renovated V.I.P Lodge? Do we need a soothsayer to tell us how unlucky our people are, with Aiyedatiwa?
“Since the International Cultural and Event Centre (The Dome) was commissioned, how many events have been held at Adegbemile? Which sensible government will now commit N293m of the people’s money to renovate a building that does not add anything to their wellbeing?
“All the four approvals were given on the same day, 26th September, 2024. Not one of these projects will benefit the people of the state directly. A man who does not take the welfare of the people as a priority cannot turn round to tell them, they are lucky to have him as their governor. It is an irony.”
But Ondo Commissioner for Information Wale Akinlosotu, said approvals and expenditures were deliberately geared towards the development of all sectors of the state.
Akinlosotu, reiterated the commitment of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration to putting in place all necessary infrastructure and maintenance of existing ones in the interest of the people of the state.
He said, “We ordinarily ought not to respond to that attack because we can see the handiwork of the opposition in the report as it is clear that PDP was speaking from the position of frustration owing to its apparent loss in the forthcoming election, but for the sake of the people of Ondo State who we are accountable to.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the approval by the State Executive Council for remodelling of the Government House gate, perimeter fence, and other renovations recently are part of the efforts of the Aiyedatiwa administration to improve on the infrastructure of the state. It is the responsibility of the government to renovate, to beautify, and to ensure state infrastructures are in the best condition at all times.
“The approvals and the fact that project executions are ongoing in all parts of the state the forthcoming election notwithstanding show the commitment of the government not to be distracted by politics and ongoing campaigns.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum has instructed all feuding members within the party to return to the status quo.
The directive was issued by the forum’s chairman, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, following a meeting of PDP governors that extended into the early hours of Tuesday.
Governor Mohammed clarified that while disagreements are inevitable in any political party, such issues can always be resolved amicably.
“There is no crisis,” he said, emphasizing that the party’s various groups, including the Governors, Board of Trustees (BoT), and National Assembly caucus, have reached a consensus for the National Working Committee (NWC) to restore the status quo.
Mohammed added that all suspensions within the party have been nullified, signaling an effort to maintain unity within the PDP.
Further details on the outcomes of the meeting are expected later.
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