The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee for
the Edo governorship primary has disqualified Godwin Obaseki, the governor.
Jonathan Ayuba, chairman of the screening committee, broke
the news while presenting his report to Adams Oshiomhole, APC national
chairman, at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja on Friday.
Six aspirants had indicated interest in the primary election
scheduled for June 22. They are Obaseki, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Pius Odubu, Chris
Ogiemwonyi, Osaro Obazee and Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.
Aside Obaseki, Ogiemwonyi and Iduoriyekemwen were also
disqualified from the race while the trio of Ize-Iyamu, Odubu and Osaro Obazee
were cleared.
Ayuba said Obaseki was disqualified over a “defective”
certificate.
“In our view of the issues raised. We concluded that the
higher school certificate was defective,” the chairman of the screening panel
“The NYSC certificate – and act of the aspirant taking the
party to court – these are some of the issues we have attached and based on the
party constitution this has made us to recommend that the above candidate thereby his excellency
Godwin Obaseki is not eligible to participate in the governor.”
On his part, Oshiomhole commended the panel, urging
disqualified aspirants, who believe that they have a case, to appeal.
Speaking with reporters after the announcement of the
screening committee, Ogiemwonyi described the process as “rubbish”.
“What is the difference between Chris and Christopher. I
have served as a minister in this country,” he said.
The aspirant said he would take his case to the appeal
panel.
After the screening on Wednesday, Obaseki had told reporters
that he was not sure of getting justice because Oshiomhole had refused to
recuse himself from the process.
“Like I said, as a party man I had to go through the
screening process but I do not believe that I will get justice because Comrade
Adams Oshiomhole is an interested party in the Edo process,” the governor had
said.
“One of the questions asked was why did I issue a gazette
that will prevent the party from performing direct elections in Edo. That did I
not see it as an anti-party activity?”
Oshiomhole is believed to be backing Ize-Iyamu for the
party’s ticket.
Ize-Iyamu had contested against Obaseki on the platform of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2016 but lost.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com