*Party Escalates Consensus Talks With Guber Aspirants…
By Kolawale Ojebisi
The peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed its party primary for the governorship election in Edo state. The primary which was initially scheduled to hold on June 19 and 20 respectively has been re-scheduled for June 23.
Speaking with journalists on this development, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said: “We have postponed our primary in Edo till June the 23rd.”
Ologbondiyan said: “Our part wishes to remind our members that all activities shall be in accordance with the Nigerai Center for Disease Control(NCDC)’s guideliens on COVID-19, as it concerns social\physical distancing at oublic gatherings.”
Governor Obaseki, had reortedly, on Wednesday, met with the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and the PDP National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus.
It was gathered that the meeting was held at the Abuja residence of the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesome Wike, in Asokoro, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).
Sources at the meeting confided in The New Diplomat that the two PDP leaders and some others in attendance gave the Edo State governor assurances of their support.
A source privy to the meeting said, “The meeting held after a virtual meeting with PDP governors in their various locations. That is the much I can say.”
Top level sources however hinted that the postponement is premised on three dynamics. One, the party leaders are working on how to placate the three PDP governorship aspirants who picked party nomination forms to contest the scheduled dparty primary earlier scheduled for June 19 and 20. By moving the primary forward would afford the PDP leadership and Governor Obaseki enough time to engage in political horse-trading and negotiations with the three contenders for the Edo state governorship race on the platform of the PDP.
Said an insider: “The three have to agree to step down for Governor Obaseki to be able to fly the PDP ticket. It is a tough task. That entails engagement and negotiations, and high-skilled political horse-trading. If one refuses to step down, then there is a big problem… because the law is very clear. So the PDP leaders from Edo state including Tom Ikimi and others are also engaging with stakeholders”
Two, the PDP is also using this few days window to reportedly weigh the various options open to it over the viability of moving forward with Governor Obaseki and the conditions therein. Said the insider: “They have given the Governor some terms and conditions which he has to meet on his part. That is also to test his commitment in the fierce race because it is a tough war.
“Everyone knows how the 2016 election was fought and won. It was courtesy of Comrade Oshiomhole, and now that Oshiomhole is on the other side, can the Governor actually single-handedly face a politically robust Pastor Ize-Iyamu,who is a grassroots politician with mass following in Edo state? He has to demonstrate his commitment.”
Three, one of the three PDP aspirants (name withheld) is currently holidaying in overseas and was been held back because of the COVID1-19 pandemic and the party leadership is trying to engage him to buy into the negotiations.
“The aspirant is from Edo Central and we are trying to reach him to see reasons why he should back down and wait for 2024 when it would be turn of Esan. But he is yet to reach an understanding. He believes he has a great chance because the Edo crisis has brought a tricky dynamics into the whole elections with the PDP also not immune to mountain of litigations. Because like I said, one of the aspirants can go to court and invalidate the PDP primary if they don’t voluntarily and willingly sign to step down…”
The three governorship aspirants that reportedly picked PDP nomination forms are: Barrister Kenneth Imansaungbon(alias Rice Man), Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, and Engr Gideon Ikhine. Both Imansuangbon and Ikhine are from Edo Central senatorial zone while Ogbeide-Ihama hails from Edo South Senatorial zone just like Obaseki.
It would be recalled that both Governor Obaseki and his benefactor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole have been engaged in a fierce and protracted political battle for the control of Edo state politics.
