APC Primaries: Obaseki refuses to appeal disqualification, likely heading to PDP

By our reporter| Embattled Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, who was on Friday screened out of the APC primaries over what the screening committee described as “defective certificate”, has said he will not appeal the outcome of the process.

In a statement signed by Crusoe Osagie, his media aide, the governor said it would be futile to appeal the outcome.

Acording to the governor, Adams Oshiomhole, the party chairman, has “declared that he is the supreme court and ultimate determiner of the fate and future of our great party”.

The statement read, “We have watched the mockery of democratic process, which Adams Oshiomhole, is administering and superintending over in our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC). It has been an unfortunate, disheartening and dreadful spectacle.”

“We had initially asserted that going by the open display and enthronement of illegality by one man in the party that comprises several organs and eminent personalities, there is no way that Governor Godwin Obaseki would get a fair assessment in the run-up to the nomination of candidates to fly the flag of the party in the forthcoming Edo gubernatorial election.

“It is unfortunate that this open show of shame, illegality and travesty of justice is the brand of democracy which Oshiomhole has reduced the APC into.

“The situation is quite saddening because this is a party supposedly reputed for change, equity and social justice.”

Meanwhile, strong indication has emerged that governor Obaseki’s next destination will likely be the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Sources in Edo state PDP said the party had in principle, reserved its governorship ticket for Obaseki.

The PDP currently has four aspirants, Kenneth Imansuagbon, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama,George Ikhine, and Ifaluyi Isibor.

Obaseki would need a waiver to take part in the PDP primaries scheduled for June 22 as a fresh member, but the party executives are reasonably expected to resolve the issue.

There are, however, some members of the Obaseki inner circle who believe, the governor should run on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.