Obaseki’s aide: APC aspirant for Edo guber election can’t emerge in Abuja

The Edo state government says it is illegal for the Adams Oshiomhole faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to settle for a candidate for the governorship election.

Ize-Iyamu, then candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), vied against Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, in 2016.

But he defected to the APC in December. Oshiomhole is reportedly backing him for the APC governorship slot against Obaseki.

In a statement on Wednesday, Crusoe Osagie, special adviser on media and communication strategy to the governor, said the party’s candidate cannot emerge from the federal capital territory (FCT).

“The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which is responsible for deploying the inner workings of the party in the state towards the emergence of a candidate of the APC in the forthcoming gubernatorial election resides and operates in Edo State, not Abuja,” he said.

“It is, therefore, hilarious to hear that a so-called consensus candidate for the party in Edo State governorship election was selected in Abuja. It is not surprising that the charade was hatched and actuated by Oshiomhole and members of his Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), a proscribed dissident group in the state.

“For us, this is a joke taken too far and clearly shows that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole once again has set the APC on a journey to perdition in Edo State as he did in Zamfara, Bayelsa, Rivers, Taraba and several other states.

“Under Oshiomhole, our great party did not lose elections due to unpopularity but as a result of the lawless conduct choreographed by Oshiomhole, which has placed the APC in dire straits one time too many.

“The last time we checked, the timetable released by Oshiomhole’s National Working Committee (NWC) fixed Edo Primary election for 22nd of June, 2020 and it is expected to hold in Edo State, but we now hear that they have conducted the primary election three weeks before the set date in a jurisdiction far away from Edo State, making a mockery of our great party, the APC.

“Our conclusion on this matter is that like all other illegal actions taken by Oshiomhole, this too is a nullity and shall come to no-effect.”