The hurdle before the APC in Edo state as the Saturday governorship primary approaches is to allow a credible process, as PATRICK AHANOR X-rays the arrangements on ground and internal disagreements in the race to succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Events leading to Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in the last few weeks suggest that the party may not know peace if the exercise is not properly managed by its leadership.
Alleged imposition, threat messages to delegates and accusations bordering on buying up of delegates Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) by a particular aspirant and plan by the party’s leadership to alter the delegates list have characterized the process.
For instance, the campaign organizations of three aspirants, namely, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Barrister Kenneth Imasuagbon and deputy governor Pius Odubu had in a letter addressed to the National Chairman, Chief Odigie Oyegun warned against attempt by the State party chairman, Barr. Anslem Ojezua or any other person to add, remove or substitute any name(s) from the list of party delegates at the wards, local government and state level that were elected in the 2014 congresses.
The letter which was signed by Messrs Barrister Humphrey Uanseoje (Director General of Odubu campaign organization)and others further said: “this act as initiated by Edo State APC chairman, the mode and the timing are cynical, illegal, immoral and capable of destroying APC in Edo State if not stoped immediately.
“And the purported suspension of the state Vice Chairman, Edo South Senatorial District, Barrister Gentleman Amegor and others were all devices to intimidate party members to support a particular gubernatorial aspirant anointed by Edo State Government House and to find an excuse to illegally replace the names of the authentic delegates,” the coordinators warned.
In addition, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Godwin Erahon who corroborated the mop up of PVCs claim in a statement said: some leaders are said to be buying each PVC across wards in the 18 councils area between ten thousand and twenty thousand naira without explanation on what they intend to do with them.
Erahon disclosed that the purpose, according to reliable source, is to distribute the cards to loyalist of the particular aspirant in order to impersonate the delegate at the primary.
According to him, should their aspirant lose out in the primary, they also intend to withhold the PVC till after the September 10 general election to sabotage whoever emerged as APC governorship candidate at the poll.
“Some Local Government Area party Chairmen are said to be threatening those who refused to submit their PVC that their names will be deleted from the list of delegates.
“Delegate who have submitted their PVC to such leaders are hereby advised to retrieve them immediately as such upfront collection of voters or party membership cards is not part of requirement for the primary,” he stated.
Besides, an aspirant on the party’s platform, Mr. Don Pedro Obaseki lastweek withdrew from the race, citing the #5.5million nomination form of the party and faulty primary process as his reason.
Obaseki who described the #5.5 million nomination form as unwholesome said “it has become obvious that the outcome of the primary was already pre-determined to favour a particular aspirant because the delegates were just awaiting to rubber stamp the aspirant. “Therefore, I have lost faith in the primary process,” he stated.
At the beginning, there were over 20 aspirants seeking the party’s ticket. But by the close of sales of nomination form and screening, the number was pruned to 12.
The number includes one female aspirant, Mrs. Tina Agbara who was issued the nomination form free of charges.
According to the APC, the policy is aimed at encouraging women participation in governorship and presidential elections.
Official records at the party National Secretariat in Abuja showed that the other 11 aspirants were those who purchased the requisite #5.5million nomination and expression of interest form; and have successfully passed the mandatory screening.
The aspirants are: the State deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd), Barrister Kenneth Imasuagbon, Prof. Osarhiemen Osunbor, Austin Emua and Comrade Peter Esele.
Others are; Mrs. Tina Agbara, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Godwin Obaseki, Prof. Ebegue Amadasun, Blessing Agbomere and Emmanuel Arigbe Osula.
About 3,330 “super delegates” are expected to pick who fly the party’s flag on Saturday 18, June 2016 for the September 10 governorship election in the State.
The issue of zoning will also play a key role in the primary. This is because there are indications that the party leadership may have quietly zoned the governorship to Edo South Senatorial District- a zone that boast of about 52 percent of registered voters in the State.
Although the APC had dispel the zoning claim in some quarters, political watchers are of the view that it will be an uphill task for aspirants from Edo North to pick the party’s ticket because according to them, incumbent Governor Oshiomhole who is serving out his two term tenure hails from the area.
The observation according to political analysts also applies to aspirants from Edo Central Senatorial District who have had their own share of power during former Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor administration (May 2007- November2008).
However, a critical observation of the strength and weaknesses of the aspirants revealed that there are three front runners for the party’s ticket.
They include incumbent deputy Governor Pius Odubu, the State’s head of economic team, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi. And a brief profile of the aspirants will suffice.
Pius Odubu: Like him of hate him, he enjoys the support of grassroots politicians who have vowed to resist attempt by “some forces” in the party to doctored the delegates’ list for the primaries.
Before now, Governor Oshiomhole had at various functions described him as the best deputy governor in Nigeria. However, such appellation is now barely heard from the governor since Odubu reportedly shunned his (Oshiomhole) preferred candidate and instead joined the governorship race.
The love lost relationship between the governor and his deputy has soured to the effect that Odubu is hardly seen on public functions with his boss or perform state function onbehalf of the governor.
For instance, some local government Chairmen in support of the deputy’s aspiration were kicked out before the expiration of their tenure over alleged corruption; just as political appointees loyal to the number two citizen of the state also have their own share of what many described as political onslaught- with the recent sacking of the commissioner for Commerce and industry, Mr. Abdul Oroh.
Although the government had in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) stated that the Commissioner’s sacking was in public interest, however political observers suspicion was confirmed when Oroh posted on a photograph his facebook page donning a faz cap with the inscription: Pius Odubu. The ex-commissioner had thus writing in his timeline: “now, I dey mind my business jeje.”
GODWIN OBASEKI: Apart from heading the state’s economic team since 2008 to date, not much is known about Mr. Godwin Obaseki as far as the state politics is concerned.
Before joining Oshiomhole’s administration in 2008, Obaseki was a financial expert and consultant. But the name have since dominated public discourse since last year when it was first speculated that incumbent Governor Adams Oshiomhole had anointed him to be his successor- a move that has splited the APC into blocks.
Be that as it may, events in the last few weeks showed that he’s enjoying the support of, executive council members as well as State and National assembly members.
In addition, was his recent endorsement over 200 delegates from Ovia North East council. However, only time will tell if these support would translate into votes on Saturday.
Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi: Born on March 21, 1951, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi is a retire Group Executive Director (Exploration) at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
He joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after his retirement in 2010 and was rewarded with the junior Minister for works by then President Goodluck Jonathan.
The ex-Minister was an aspirant on the platform of PDP in the build up to the 2012 governorship election in the State. He was said to have chickened out after the party leadership reportedly demanded the sum of N100 million to kick start his campaigns.
He officially joined the APC in 2014 and has remained a committed member of the party till date.
Ogiemwonyi, a gentleman has got integrity and accountability. His campaigns in the last few weeks showed that he has learnt the intrigues of politics and appeared to have done his homework and ready to slug it out.
