Obaseki, Ize- Iyamu, others set for final showdown as APC primary beckons
AS the date for the All Progressives Congress ( APC) governorship primary draws nearer, gladiators in the Edo State chapter of the party, including Governor Godwin Obaseki, Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu and Simeon Odubu among others, are making preparations for the final showdown to clinch the party’s ticket.
It is going to be a foretaste of the main battle in which no fewer than 18 political parties have so far expressed readiness to participate in the governorship polls that the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) has scheduled for September 19, 2020.
Stakeholders have expressed preparedness for the exercise, just as INEC maintains that there will be no room for postponement of the election. INEC Public Relations Officer in Edo State, Mrs. Tina Obamogie, disclosed that though the guidelines are in place, there are other areas of interface with political parties to fine- tune strategies for a hitch- free primaries. She said though most of the umpire’s meetings and interactions with the political parties are virtual, adding that the commission’s election party monitoring department is in touch with the 18 political parties in the state.
With INEC guidelines in place, Publicity Secretary APC Edo State, Pastor Joseph Osagiede, said the party had three methods of primaries, emphasising that the indirect mode of selection as ratified by the party’s National Executive Committee would determine the emergence of its governorship candidate.
On his part, Edo State PDP Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, said irrespective of the interruption of the party’s activities by the Covid- 19 pandemic, the party was working out modalities for hitch- free primaries.
According to INEC’S timetable for Edo State governorship election, collection of forms by political parties commences at INEC headquarters on 16 June. Conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries is on 6 July while political parties are to commence campaigns in public on 21 July 2020 amongst other activities.
To this end, the All Progressives Congress ( APC) has announced Monday, June 22 and Monday, July 20 for its governorship primary elections in Edo and Ondo States.
According to APC National Organizing Secretary, Emma Ibediro, the cost of its nomination and expression of interest forms is for N22.5 million cumulatively. While there is no separate charge for running mates, female and physically challenged aspirants were, however, given a 50 per cent rebate.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Mr. Festus Okoye, who in a statement said, “The Commission deliberated extensively on a policy framework that will guide its operations, activities and engagements with critical stakeholders in view of the COVID- 19 pandemic and its impact on the electoral process in Nigeria, reassured Nigerians of it’s resolve and determination to provide the requisite guidance, innovation and leadership in conducting elections in the context of the COVID- 19 pandemic.
“Based on this, the commission will on Thursday, 21 May 2020 issue a policy framework for engagement with stakeholders, the conduct of the two end of tenure governorship elections, outstanding bye elections and future electoral activities.
“The commission reiterated its commitment to conduct the Edo and Ondo Governorship elections on 19 September and 10 October 2020 as contained in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released on 6 February 2020. “The commission is committed to fulfilling its constitutional responsibility of conducting elections but without jeopardizing the health and wellbeing of citizens, stakeholders or its valued staff.
“The Commission will accelerate consultations and engagements with political parties, civil society organizations, security agencies and health authorities as soon as its Policy Framework is finalized this week. “We again urge everyone to remain safe and healthy by complying with all the guidelines and protocols issued by the health authorities”.
With all now set for the battle for the soul of Edo State, there is no gainsaying that tension is mounting among supporters of both factions loyal to Governor Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) and immediate past governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the September 28, 2016 poll, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu ahead of the APC guber primary scheduled to hold in the coming days.
Obaseki and Ize- Iyamu cannot forget the month of September easily as they faced each other in what could be described as the most interesting guber contest which saw Obaseki emerge Governor on September 28, 2016 polls in the state.
With another September in the offing, promising to be the battle of the titans in the state, Obaseki and Ize- Iyamu would see another fight to finish as they patiently work and pray in earnest to see who the odds will favour come September 19th.
Obaseki, who is the incumbent governor of the state and on a mission to rescue Edo from leaders and party strongmen determined to return the state to the days of abysmal failure by his predecessors, having fought hard to bring to an end the era of godfathers in the state, amidst outcry by political proponents opposed to his governance style. Ize- Iyamu, who is perceived to be anointed as a consensus candidate from among the four guber aspirants loyal to the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, is counting on support from powerful forces from outside the state and APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Obaseki, who appears undaunted by his political detractors, has remained committed in his service to the people, without losing sleep over the plot to deny him a second term ticket for re- election. Obaseki and his supporters have waged war against all perceived political opponents and camps against his government and his re- election bid leading to the sack of many of his aides, commissioners and appointees in his government.
The sacked commissioners were alleged to be loyalists of the APC’S national chairman; they include Joseph Ugheoke ( Energy and Water Resources) and Osahon Amiolemen ( Commissioner for Infrastructure). Others were Dr. David Osifo ( Health), Mika Amanokha ( Youths and Special Duties), Mariam Abubakar ( Budget), Emmanuel Usoh ( Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment), Dr. Christopher Adesotu ( Science and Technology).
The Obaseki- led government immediately nominated the following persons as replacement for appointment as commissioners – Damian Lawani, Joe Ikpea, Felix Akhabue, Moses Agbakor, Momoh Oise Omorogbe, and Marie Edeko, with others appointed Special Advisers including Magdalene Ohenhen, Osaigbovo Iyoha, Andrew
Momodu and Ojo Asien, who could stand as his most trusted and loyal men and women in the fight ahead.
Obaseki had, in the wake of the crisis in the state, accused Oshiomhole of being behind his many travails and plots to deny him a second term in office based on the rift between the duo.
But Oshiomhole, having lost interest in his former godson, Obaseki, to return for a second term, had found new friends who he seems to now favour despite the fact that among these newfound friends were those who were once his biggest nightmare apparently being in the opposition during the general election in the state.
Obaseki and Ize- Iyamu, until the return of the latter to the APC, were two politicians who were at daggers drawn, and had nothing in common until Oshiomhole welcomed Ize- Iyamu into the ruling party, a move perceived by many as a political vendetta against Obaseki.
Ize- Iyamu, who defected to the APC officially last November, was received by the former deputy governor of Edo State, Odubu, who represented Oshiomhole at his GRA residence in the state capital. Odubu, who is a top contender for the governorship ticket, had been penciled down as a favourite candidate and replacement of Obaseki by a faction of the APC loyal to Oshiomhole but the odds seems not to favour him the way things stand.
The four major aspirants namely, Chris Ogiemwonyi, Odubu, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere ( rtd) and Ize- Iyamu, who belong to a political camp working against the reelection bid of Governor Obaseki have intensified effort to clinch the APC guber ticket against all odds. But Ize- Iyamu, who defected to the APC seven months, has become a threat to other aspirants in the APC faction loyal to Oshiomhole.
Describing the defection of Ize- Iyamu to the APC in November 2019, Comrade Oshiomhole said his return to the ruling party was a plus for the APC. He said IzeIyamu’s arrival has helped the party gain more supporters and strength in the forthcoming governorship elections to hold in September.
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Obaseki, who appears undaunted by his political detractors, has remained committed in his service to the people, without losing sleep over the plot to deny him a second term ticket for re- election