Amid the defection talks of Governor Godwin Obaseki to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Edo state Chapter of the party has said Obaseki would be subjected to the rigours of the party’s guber primaries in the state.
Edo PDP Chairman, Mr Tony Aziegbemi said while plans are in top gear for his defection to the party, Gov Obaseki will not be granted an automatic ticket to contest for his re-election without proper primaries.
Within the PDP, about three aspirants have picked up the party’s nomination forms to contest the party’s governorship primary. They include Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a young member of the House of Representatives from Oredo, in Edo South Senatorial zone, Barrister Ken Imasuagben, ‘aka rice man’, and Mr Gideon Ikihine.
Following his disqualification by the All Progressives Congress screening committee, Obaseki has been consulting with PDP leaders to pave way for his imminent defection to the PDP.
He has visited two governors in the South South, Nyesom Wike in Rivers and Emmanuel Udom in Akwa Ibom.
Aziegbemi while speaking with NAN said: “I can confirm to you that the governor, his deputy and the entire APC structure in the state will be joining PDP soon.
“We have been in touch in the last few days; by tomorrow, I will be able to confirm the exact date he will be joining, along with his team.
“However, I am not yet aware that the governor has obtained our party’s membership card. I can also say that there is no automatic ticket in the offing for him at all,” he said.
Similarly, a governorship aspirant of the PDP, Mr Ken Imasuagbon, has said he is prepared for open contest, provided his opponents will be ready to subject themselves to the party’s rules and regulations.
Imasuagbon said he was not averse to Obaseki’s planned move to join the party, but added that he would resist any attempt to hand over the party’s ticket to him, preparatory to the governorship election slated for Sept. 19.
According to him, Obaseki will have to join the queue, just like other aspirants, and go through the party’s primaries, billed for June 19 and June 20.
“Any attempt to hand the party’s ticket to him will be met with serious resistance. In fact, there will be no PDP primaries or whatever if the party’s leadership tries it.
“This is neither a military coup nor military rule; the governor must subject himself to the party’s primaries.
“He will need to queue with the other aspirants, if he wishes to join the race. But we will certainly resist handing him over the ticket automatically.
“Have you heard before that somebody will join a party and within three days, he will be given the ticket? Did he buy the party’s nomination form? Was he screened?” he asked.
