Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

The Edo State chap­ter of the All Pro­gressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday said Comrade Adams Osh­iomhole, national chairman of the party, was economical with the truth when he said that the party was not aware of Governor Godwin Obase­ki’s preference for indirect primary.

He made the declaration fol­lowing a closed-door meeting he held with seven members of the Progressives Gover­nors’ Forum, led by Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu.

Though the primary has been fixed for June 22, the Edo State chapter of the APC and the national leadership of the party are currently locked in a battle on the mode mode to be used in choosing the flag bearer.

While Edo APC, led by Anselm Ojezua, said it was adopting the indirect prima­ry method for the emergence of the party’s flag bearer in the September 19, 2020 governor­ship election in the state, the NWC said it had adopted the direct primary option.

Speaking while addressing the governors, Oshiomhole said the governor’s preference for indirect primaries fell with­in the realm of speculation since the party was yet to be formally notified.

He noted further that the party’s decision to use direct primary remained sacrosanct because it aligned with the APC’s constitution.

“Obaseki is not here but issues of primaries are well spelt out in our constitution, and we are following it as strictly as possible.

“So, there’s nothing to wor­ry about at all. You (reporters) are speculating; I don’t have any letter or document to that effect. These are very formal matters, so stop spreading ru­mours.”

However, speaking with Daily Independent, Anselm Ojezua, the Edo State chair­man of the party, said it was not Obaseki’s duty to notify Oshiomhole.

Ojezua, who said Oshiom­hole was being clever by half, added that it was the duty of the state executive to notify the party leadership, which had been done.

“It is not the governor’s duty to notify him. It is the party’s responsibility to do that. The governor is just a member of the state executive.

“I am the state chairman of the party. The state executive has communicated with him on the need for indirect prima­ry. The man is being clever by half. It is not true that we have not notified him.

“The state executive com­mittee has notified him and that is all that is required. It is not the governor that will do that,” he said.

In copies of letters sighted by our correspondent, the Edo State chapter of the party had written to the NWC, through the national chairman, on May 22, 2020.

The letter, which was stamped and acknowledged by one Temitope who also signed it on May 27, 2020 was titled: ‘Resolutions of the State Exec­utive Committee on the Mode of Primary for the Impending Governorship Election’.

It read: “At the meeting of the State Executive Committee with the critical stakeholders of the party in Edo State to­day, the 22nd of May, 2020 and upon a motion moved by the State Assistant Youth Leader, Joseph Ohiafi, Esq. and sec­onded by the State Auditor, Hon. Timothy Osadolor, it was unanimously resolved that:

“Pursuant to the constitu­tion of the All Progressives Congress (October 2014, as Amended) and in view of the authority conferred on us by the National Executive Com­mittee of our party to choose any of the methods provided in the said constitution for the conduct of primaries in Edo State, and having regards to the prevailing circumstances in the state, to wit, the raging COVID-19 pandemic and the policies, protocols, and regu­lations put in place by govern­ment which emphasise social distancing, among other safety measures being painstaking­ly implemented in the state, we as members of the State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Edo State, together with other critical stakeholders whose signatures in affirmation are herewith attached, do unani­mously choose and adopt the indirect primary method for use in nominating our candi­date for the 2020 gubernatorial election in the state.”

The letter was jointly signed by the state executive, local government party chair­men, statutory delegates for primary and local government council chairmen.

Also yesterday, a frontline aspirant of the APC in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, welcomed the entrance of other aspirants into the race to clinch the ticket of the par­ty ahead of the governorship election in the state.

More persons have pur­chased the nomination forms to contest for the party’s ticket in its internal primary elec­tion scheduled for June 22.

In his reaction, Ize-Iyamu, speaking through a statement released by his campaign organisation and signed by Prince John Mayaki, the Di­rector of Communication and Media, described the emer­gence of more aspirants as a welcome development that will strengthen the party’s internal democracy.

He said: “I welcome the entrance of my fellow party men into the contest for the governorship ticket of our great party, the All Progres­sives Congress.

“As I have said before, I re­main resolute on the fact that we are all driven by a shared desire of developing Edo State, improving the standards of living of our people, and offer­ing a better alternative to an incumbent that has failed our party and state.”

Also yesterday, a political group in Ondo State, the Uni­ty Mandate Agenda, said Os­hiomhole had compromised with his endorsement of Gov­ernor Rotimi Akeredolu for another term.

The group, in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Babatope Abisola, said Oshiomhole’s public endorsement of Akeredolu looked like an easy ride to an­other term in office.

https://www.independent.ng/oshiomhole-lied-we-notified-him-on-indirect-primary-edo-apc/

How can indirect primary work in a factionalised state. It is a recipe for disaster, if faction loyal to obaseki inagurate delegates to vote in indirect primary, the faction loyal to osho can easily approach the court and it end like zamfara and Rivers.

Direct primary is the best for the two factions, they should all participate and the faction with huge grassroot followers will carry the day.

Depends.. There are two factions.. So maybe the one recognized by osho did not write to inform. Him... Anyway.. Let the best rigger wins.. It is not as if obaseki sef na Saint... So let him carry his cross?.. One question though.. Why has 14 duly elected state lawmaker not been inaugurated by obaseki?

How can they call Oshiomhole a liar when LYING is in the job description of every politician

From the look of things, Obaseki has won the battle

StubbornGENIUS:
How can they call Oshiomhole a liar when LYING is in the job description of every politician

God bless you.. As if all of them no be be scam

bolaayenimo:
From the look of things, Obaseki has won the battle

Na social media dem dey vote àbí?

There are 2 factions in Edo APC. The best way to go is Direct Primary. Even if the faction loyal to the Governor notified the NWC. It is the responsibility of the NWC to approve or choose another mode of primary. Let all of the factions participate in the Direct primary and let all the party members partake in the process of choosing the party flag bearer.

Their palavas

Seems the gear of this Obaseki-Oshiomole political charade have changed.Direct or Indirect primary, Obaseki should fall in for the show.However, most politicians are all liars and anti-democratic people.So nothing new

Go and prepare for direct primary and stop crying around

thelinguist:
Depends.. There are two factions.. So maybe the one recognized by osho did not write to inform. Him... Anyway.. Let the best rigger wins.. It is not as if obaseki sef na Saint... So let him carry his cross?.. One question though.. Why has 14 duly elected state lawmaker not been inaugurated by obaseki?

for 1 year , he left the elected representatives in the lurch and he's not ready to go and test his popularity with the people who those members are representing.

Indirect primary everybody will vote and counted immediately. Direct they will just declare fake results anyhow like they did In Ogun and Imo

seanfer:
There are 2 factions in Edo APC. The best way to go is Direct Primary. Even if the faction loyal to the Governor notified the NWC. It is the responsibility of the NWC to approve or choose another mode of primary. Let all of the factions participate in the Direct primary and let all the party members partake in the process of choosing the party flag bearer.

A

Edolites : Vote wisely for the man or woman you believe will change your life and the way you live.

Forget about party politics.

This is the only way all our states and nation at large can move forward.

We Rise!

Politicians are pathetic liars..... oshiomole, Obaseki, Buhari, Tinubu, Wike, Jonathan, Osibanjo, Atiku and co. They are all bloody liars and corrupt criminals...

APC matters

Lying is one of the credentials to Nigerian politics.

Osho baba wants what will favour him that's why he chose direct primaries and he is also looking for a way to get back at obaseki from their old rift.

He waited till this time to hit Obaseki HARD.... And he is doing it with his strong rival Pastor ize-iyamu. Poor Governor.

He went to PMB with some of his friends and the response they got wasn't encouraging. He will just try his luck. Its a pity though

Which battle has he won.Direct primary is the only way to go.Mind you ,he is leaving for PDP this week.

Why is Obaseki afraid of direct primary? I smell defeat just like I did for Jonathan and Atiku in 2015 & 2019 respectively

The non-Edo people of NL that are more Edo than Edo people you all should come and run your mouths as usual.

APC and PDP e-rats I officially declare the floor open for your fights.

Anytime wey I hear Oshiomole, laugh go just dey catch me

I have read many times on this platform, where ppl make comments that we Nigerians cannot organise a protest for those that have been killed either by bandits, cultists, bokoharam or fulani herdsmen....yea we know it's not right.
The same way Nigerians kill each other is the same way ppl of the same ethnicity and geographical location kill each other in their own countries e.g India, Pakistan, Iran, Mexico, Cuba, Europe just name it, these things happen everywhere.

yea we know Nigeria situation is really skyrocketing, and am very optimistic that sooner or later things will get bk to normal.

Now back to the reason I decided to write this, is like you all don't understand the in depth reason FLOYD GEORGE was killed, who killed him and the implications thereafter. Please I beg you my Nairalanders dont confuse the concepts of RACISM with ETHNICITY. An average white man hates on the success of black man, a black man succeed virtually in anywhere he finds himself...the facts are there, check it out, blacks dominate the sport sector in America (BLACK POWER) so because of this the white man get irritated.

Blacks were enslaved in mostly Europe and America for over 400years, and even after the slave trade, they have been castigated day by day, they re seeing as a threat to white supremacy, all these boil down to emotional and psychological imbalance in a black man.

We all saw how this black man was publicly humiliated and killed in a broad daylight in this so called 21st century, now what message do you think it would pass to a black kids huh!!...that's a psychological effects right there people. Believe me guys, the protest was loud not just because a white cop killed a bkcak man, but because of the history behind it. now check this, white may kills white or black kills black in America and ppl wouldn't even know...that's the basic truth.
Therefore many countries, organisations, clubs etc were all in solidarity to protest the death of GEORGE FLOYD just because:
1. The manner he was killed
2 . who killed him
3. and the history behind it

Why is obaseki scared self

bolaayenimo:
From the look of things, Obaseki has won the battle

Yeah, that's why he's running up and down and lobbying the president and the APC governors. He's done, he sealed his own fate last year.

Obaseki faction can tow amosun and rochas path by conducting their own indirect primary against NWC.last last size iyamu emergence will be an easy ride