- Oyegun Backed Obaseki while Tinubu bankrolled Ize-Iyamu in the fierce Battle for Edo Governorship!
There is anxiety in the political camp of former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as John Odigie-Oyegun has emerged as the chairman of the screening committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).
Odigie-Oyegun, widely believed as an arch enenmy of Tinubu has begun supervising the screening of APC presidential aspirants in Abuja.
The duo had been at loggerheads since the 2020 Edo State Governorship Election.
A source who has knowledge of the inside details said the camp of Tinubu has been troubled since Oyegun’s emergence as the head of the committee as it could be problematic for the presidential bid of the former governor.
The top APC aspirant had openly led a fight that toppled Oyegun as the party chairman in 2018.
During the election, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who was backed by Tinubu, was defeated by the incumbent Governor Godwin Oabseki despite defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party.
“There is fear and anxiety among the aspirants and the various camps because Chief Oyegun has become a controversial and polarising figure in the party.
“He was among those who plotted against the removal of Adams Oshiomhole and sack of immediate past NWC. He supported Obaseki in an election where APC had a Governorship candidate in Edo State. The issue has become if Chief Oyegun will be impartial,” a source was quoted to have said.
The New Diplomat had reported that the presidential aspirants of the APC are currently undergoing screening in Abuja.
In the list released by the party early Monday, Tinubu and Vice president Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan and former ministers Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Godswill Akpabio, and Chukwuemeja Nwajiuba, are billed for screening today.
Serving governors who are also listed for the screening are Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa).
Others are former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole and serving Senators Ibikunle Amosun, Ajayi Boroffice, and Rochas Okorocha.
Pastor Tunde Bakare, Uju Ken-Ohanenye, Nicholas Felix, Ahmad Rufai Sani, Tein Jack-Rich, Ikeobasi Mokelu are also expected to face the screening panel.
