By Kolawole Ojebisi
It appears Governor Godwin Obaseki may have weathered the storm of political opposition that threatened to put his reelection ambition on the platform of People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in Jeopardy.
This is because one of his stiff opponents, Hon.Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, seems to be ready to hold out an olive branch to the Edo state governor.
Going by what happened in court today when the Federal High Court in Port-Harcourt on Wednesday granted a three-hour stand down for parties involved in a suit to explore an amicable out-of- court settlement of the suit.
The request for the out-of-court amicable resolution was made through oral application by Mr Ferdinand Orbih (SAN)Ogbeide-Ihama’s(the plaintiff) lawyer.
The suit is seeking, among other prayers, to bar Governor Godwin Obaseki from the contesting the Edo State People’s Democratic Party governorship primary slated for Thursday
Justice E.O Obile granted the stand down; the counsel for the respondents Emmanuel Enoidem, Higher King, Alex Ejesiema and M.E Ani– did not object to the prayer for a stand-down to allow parties to talk too.
Justice Obile, however, ordered the parties to within three hours discuss and document their terms of settlement.
He said the case would be recalled at 12.30pm for the parties to brief the court on the outcome of their discussion.
The judge said the case would be recalled and adjourned the matter till 12.30pm for a contraction of hearing and possible decision on the matter.
If they strike a bargain considered fair to both parties then the participation of Obaseki in tomorrow’s primary of the PDP may be close to being a reality.
Recall that Governor Obaseki got a waiver of the PDP to join the race under its platform after defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC)
After granting him a waiver,
Mr. Ogbeide-ihama had filed a suit in the court asking it to prevent any member of the party that has purchased forms but not screened within the time stipulated to contest the PDP primary.
The court, yesterday, granted the request for an accelerated hearing of the suit before the twist to the litigation that happened at the court today.
Meanwhile, a High Court of Justice in the Ekpoma judicial division today restrained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from excluding Governor Godwin Obaseki and the other cleared aspirants from participating in the Edo State governorship primary.
The court ordered that the PDP and the electoral umpire should not exempt any of the aspirants who have been cleared by the party from participating in the gubernatorial primary slated for the 25th June 2020.
