Everyone is throwing Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki under the bus –

The All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo State, has recommended the expulsion of Governor Godwin Obaseki, and the Chairman of the party, Anselm Ojezua as well as the state women leader, Dr Aisosa Amadasun from the party.

Speaking at a news conference in Benin City on Sunday, June 14, 2020, David Imuse-led executive, also commended the disqualification of Governor Obaseki by the party’s governorship primaries screening committee, noting that the decision will help the party avert a repeat of the scenario which played out in Bayelsa State.

Imuse cited anti-party activities, dragging the party to court without exploring all available internal dispute resolution options as some of the wrongs of those recommended.

On Saturday, the National Working Committee had confirmed that the governor was disqualified from participating in the party’s primaries for the upcoming governorship election.

According to the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, Obaseki in addition to presenting faulty certificates, had abused his powers as Governor of the state.

He also accused Obaseki of orchestrating the inauguration of only nine out of 24 members of the State House of Assembly, an act he described as unacceptable to the party.

“Our democracy is founded on a tripod of executive, legislature and the judiciary,” Oshiomhole said. “When a Governor decides to muzzle the legislature, then democracy is dead.”

He insisted that Obaseki frustrated moves to resolve the issue as he obtained court orders restraining the Senate President, the National Assembly and the reconciliation committee from intervening in the matter.

Consequently, Oshiomhole said the party has cleared three persons that will participate in the Edo state primaries: Hon. Pius Odubu, Mr. Osaro Obaze, and Pastor Osagie Eze-Iyamu.

Earlier on Saturday, an APC appeal committee had upheld Obaseki’s disqualification which was first announced by the party’s screening committee on Friday.

The appeal committee, in a press briefing held in Abuja on Saturday, said it was aligning itself with the APC screening committee’s inability to vouch for the authenticity of the NYSC Certificate presented by Governor Obaseki.

Although he rejected the screening committee’s report, Obaseki has said he will not appeal the decision.

The NWC is the highest appeal body in the APC.

Meanwhile, the Edo All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the House of Representatives has endorsed Osagie Ize-Iyamu as their candidate, ahead of the June 22 governorship primaries of the party in the state.

In a joint statement by the six APC members including Julius Ihonvbere (Owan Federal Constituency) and Johnson Oghuma (Etsako Federal Constituency), they said the resolution was taken after an extensive consultation across the state.

According to the statement, the lawmakers also expressed their support on the method the leadership of the party had adopted for the governorship primaries.

The statement reads: “As members of the party, we hereby restate our full support for the method the party has chosen as their preferred method, for the forthcoming primaries in Edo.

“In reaching this conclusion, we considered safety, security and logistics reasons as well as political inclusiveness and compliance to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines and regulations.’’

The lawmakers commended the party men and women for their resilience and support.

NAN reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) had announced September 19, as the date for the Edo governorship polls