APC doesn’t need Obaseki’s permission for Direct Primaries

An alarmist and false assertion made by Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State, on the Direct Primary of the All Progressives Congress set to hold tomorrow, Monday, June 22nd, has been brought to our attention.

Without a hint of irony, especially a day after he assembled hundreds of youths at the PDP Secretariat without social distancing or any form of protection over his insignificant defection, the Governor laid claims to Edo State COVID-19 Quarantine Regulations and the state Government’s Gazette on political gatherings in a pandemic, and falsely accused the party of violating these guidelines. 

We wish to clarify to the public that unlike Governor Godwin Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress and its officials in Edo State are law-abiding. The adoption of the Direct mode of primary by the party was done to allow for an effective decentralization of the process, reduced inter-community and regional movements of people, and sufficient room for proper social distancing and process management in compliance with all health guidelines in place to curb the spreading of the coronavirus disease. 

Having studied the Governor’s gazette, and without bias for his hypocrisy and the bad-faith that informed the origination of the laws, the party chapter in Edo State has designed a primary process that will see only a maximum of 18 persons, including officials, observers and voters, converge at a single point for the entire duration of the exercise across wards tomorrow even though the gazette in fact permitted 20 persons. 

Necessary clearance has been sought and obtained from all relevant bodies including the electoral body, INEC, the Police, and health agencies who have all attested to the readiness of the party to conduct the exercise without violating any existing laws in place to prevent the spread of the viral disease. 

We, therefore, see no reason why Governor Godwin Obaseki would appoint himself alarmist-in-chief and use the instrument and resources of state to spread panic and falsehood. We urge the Governor to seek immediate attention for his obsession with the APC, focus on his new party, and desist from calculated moves intended to introduce chaos and disunity in our advancing party.

His voluntary exit has opened the door to a blast of fresh air and decorum, and we are making great strides in the quest to restore long-lost sanity in the Government House.

Prince John Mayaki
Director of Communication and Media
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organizationinfo@johnmayaki.com09060000011