APC screening committee passes Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, disqualifies Obaseki, Ogiemwonyi and Iduoriyekemwen

The Screening Committee of the All Progressives Congress has cleared Pastor Osagie-Ize Iyamu to participate in the party’s primary election in Edo State scheduled for the 22nd of June, while disqualifying the embattled incumbent Governor over discrepancies in his academic credentials.

Governor Godwin Obaseki was deemed ineligible by the Screening Committee over multiple inconsistencies in his presented academic certificates, including a Higher School Leaving Certificate the Governor claimed to have obtained from an Institute of Continuing Education in Benin City, Edo State.

The certificate, according to the committee, is unknown to the Nigerian education system and the Governor also admitted during the screening that he never received the certificate.

Furthermore, his NYSC certificate indicated the name ‘Obasek’, and while the Committee acknowledged that this could be an error on the part of the issuing body, it flagged the Governor’s failure to address the problem for years and thus solidified doubts on its authenticity. Governor Godwin Obaseki also failed to supply additional documents solicited as proof of its claims.

On these grounds, the Committee, relying on the party constitution, ruled Governor Godwin Obaseki ineligible for participation in the party primary.

Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi was also ruled ineligible over inconsistencies in the name contained in his submitted academic certificates. Another disqualified aspirant was Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.

Dr. Pius Odubu and Mr. Osaro Obazee however passed the screening and joined Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the aspirants ruled eligible by the Screening Committee of the party to participate in the primary election.

Governor Godwin Obaseki’s disqualification came as no surprise to party members who, in the past few weeks, have raised alarm over the inconsistencies in his academic qualifications and how that could cost the party if he is presented for election.

The Governor was dragged to court over indicting allegations of forgery and perjury, adding to the concerns of APC stakeholders in the state who agreed that disqualifying the embattled governor from the race would serve the best interest of the party.

The speculations about his next plans:
(As shared with us by John Mayaki yesterday, thursday).

Obaseki resumes PDP defection talks, reaches out to PDP governors.
.....Wike, Dan Orbih as Obaseki’s albatross
.....Obaseki considers AAC as plan “B”

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State last night resumed talks with the opposition PDP to negotiate a possible defection and how he can obtain the party’s ticket after it became clear that he has been rejected by the All Progressives Congress.

After last night’s meeting in Abuja, Obaseki arrived Benin city to continue the marathon meetings - first with a handful of disgruntled members loyal to the Obaseki/Shaibu Movement in Edo South Senatorial District. As at the time of filing this report, Obaseki was neck-deep in another round of meeting in Government House.

The embattled Governor held a meeting with the leadership of the PDP last night in Abuja after his session with the APC Screening Committee where he failed to justify the discrepancies spotted in his academic credentials and the heavily criticized gazette he recently signed to prevent the party from conducting its direct primary.

However, presenting new problems to the Governor, the Edo State Chapter of the PDP has disassociated itself from the reportedly arranged meetings with national leaders of the opposition party just as Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike and former State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih vehemently objected to his defection.

AbujaGuardian learnt that former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi has bought into Obaseki’s defection plans.

Obaseki who is reportedly perfecting a plan “B” with a relatively unknown party; African Action Congress (AAC) is also reported to have reached out to other Governors elected on the platform of the PDP to mount pressure on the aspirants of the party in Edo State to step down for him and grant him a special waiver as the party’s candidate for the governorship election fixed for September.

Gideon Ikhine, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Kenneth Imasuagbon are the aspirants vying for the PDP’s ticket in Edo State. Obaseki’s task, should he finalize his decamp to the party, would be convincing the three aspirants, alongside other party members, to step down their ambition for him.

Another hurdle that has plagued the defections talks is the choice of a running mate. According to several reports, prior to the emergence of the 3 aspirants, the PDP had told Obaseki to nominate a running mate from their rank and drop the bad-tempered Philip Shaibu.

So which qualifications did he use when he won the first term?

You guys see what Oshiomhole did? He weeded out the 3 people that are not his candidates and left his 3 options - plan A, (Ize-Iyamu), plan B (Odubu) and plan C (Obazee). Damn, Oshio is a merciless maga!
Bad ass daddy.

TUANKU:
So which qualifications did he use when he won the first term?

Well, it was even worse then - he had no cert to show, said all were missing and presented affidavit which was later declared by the acclaimed issuing court (Abuja high court) not to exist in its records. Then later, he suddenly brought certificates - questionable ones, claiming that he has found them now, that they were with his brother. Well, because they were his backers then, they covered it all up for him. That's why this project was so easy for them now - the people that covered up his secrets then, he decided to fight them.
Hmmm. Big lesson learnt!
Meanwhile, the ones Oshio is projecting now, don't be surprised that they also have question marks oh, but it will be swept under the carpet now because they're loyal now. That's politics - Nigerian edition.

EmmaFantastic:

Well, it was even worse then - he had no cert to show, said all were missing and presented affidavit which was later declared by the acclaimed issuing court (Abuja high court) not to exist in its records. Then later, he suddenly brought certificates - questionable ones, claiming that he has found them now, that they were with his brother. Well, because they were his backers then, they covered it all up for him. That's why this project was so easy for them now - the people that covered up his secrets then, he decided to fight them.
Hmmm. Big lesson learnt!
Meanwhile, the ones Oshio is projecting now, don't be surprised that they also have question marks oh, but it will be swept under the carpet now because they're loyal now. That's politics - Nigerian edition.

.
So now they want to replace him with the same man oshiomole told us 4 years ago was corrupt and not fit to be governor. What has suddenly changed?
Edo people will be the real losers.

TUANKU:
.
So now they want to replace him with the same man oshiomole told us 4 years ago was corrupt and not fit to be governor. What has suddenly changed?
Edo people will be the real losers.

Honestly, the whole scenario is odd! Or maybe Odubu will get the ticket. He's the only impeccable person among the remaining 3 contenders - 2 term member of House Of Reps (1999-2007) and then from there to 2 term deputy Governor to Oshiomhole. At least, he has no blemish, holds a doctorate degree in Law and had a chamber (at Mission road, Benin City)/practiced law in Benin.

Obaseki right now:

EmmaFantastic:

Honestly, the whole scenario is odd! Or maybe Odubu will get the ticket. He's the only impeccable person among the remaining 3 contenders - 2 term member of House Of Reps (1999-2007) and then from there to 2 term deputy Governor to Oshiomhole. At least, he has no blemish, holds a doctorate degree in Law and had a chamber (at Mission road, Benin City)/practiced law in Benin.

You forgot two important factors required to win elections in Edo, Juju and thugs.