Despite the intervention of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the relationship between the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole has remained hostile as the latter is insisting on Direct Primary for the primary election.
Some of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors who met with the National Leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu, in Lagos on Sunday, also met with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party yesterday in Abuja. The meeting was held to discuss issues between the Governor’s Forum and the party leadership that would lead to the progress of
the party.
The National Working Committee (NWC) had approved direct method of primary for the June 22 gubernatorial primary in Edo state, which was opposed by a section of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party under Obaseki’s control.
The governors at the meeting yesterday include; Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos state), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi state), Simon Lalong (Plateau state), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo state), Muhammad Inuwa (Gombe state), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara state) and Muhammadu Abubakar (Jigawa state).
It was revealed that the mode of primary had not been resolved when Oshiomhole said he had not received any former letter from the Governor of the state, Obaseki, over his disagreement with the method approved by the party’s NWC.
Briefing journalists at the party national secretariat, Oshiomhole said; “We have since published our time table because, under the law, we are required to give INEC at least 21days notice to monitor our primaries and to state the mode of our primaries and of course NEC has approved direct primaries for Edo. That of Ondo has not been discussed because that will come much later, because Edo will come about three weeks before Ondo”.
He also said the ruling party had commenced selling of forms and that forms were still available to all those who wished to buy based on the guidelines of the party, stressing that as at last Friday, three persons had picked forms.
When asked if Obaseki’s decision to kick against direct primary will cause problems in the party, Oshiomhole said: “you are speculating, I don’t have any letter or document to that effect. These are very formal letters. So, stop spreading rumours”.
