The news that broke out on Friday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be opting for direct governorship primaries to choose its candidate for the Edo election has reportedly not gone down well with Edo state Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki who has reportedly reached out to one of the national leaders of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, seeking his intervention on the subject- matter.
The primary has been scheduled for June 22. Recall The New Diplomat reported on Friday that the National body of the party has settled for a direct primary as against the indirect primary model.
Obaseki reportedly made the move to meet with Tinubu after the National Working Committee of the party announced the adoption of direct primaries and waiver for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who moved to the APC though he had been a foundation member of the ACN which merged with CPC and others to form APC.
Pastor Ize-Iyamu who is described as a strong and resilient political force is believed to enjoy the support of some key members of the APC National Working Committee(NWC). Ize-Iyamu was also the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last governorship elections in Edo state. He lost out to Governor Obaseki in the 2016 Edo governorship elections.
Recall that both Governor Obaseki and his predecessor, who is also the national chairman of the APC, comrade Adams Oshiomhole have been having protracted battle and endless differences. These differences have remained unresolved.
Though it could not be ascertained when Obaseki would visit Tinubu, it was learnt that the meeting will likely take place at the Ikoyi, Lagos home of Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State.
It could also not be established if the proposed meeting is meant to seek Tinubu’s support in helping to address the long-standing differences between Oshiomhole and Obaseki.
The New Diplomat gathered that a prominent businessman had similarly taken Ize-Iyamu to meet with Tinubu in his Lagos home a few weeks back. It was not clear what the outcome of the reported meeting was.
In the meantime, with just twenty-eight days to the scheduled APC primary in Edo state, the intrigues and stake have become increasingly high. This development has further opened a raging war of words between Oshiomhole’s supporters and former Edo state governor, and one time national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
While Oyegun believes that Obaseki should be given an automatic ticket, a community of Oshiomhole’s loyalists have consistently reacted with a reprimand, accusing the former of being Obaseki’s footman.
