By Ismaila Chafe, Abuja/ Deborah Coker, Benin
June 16, 2020
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has resigned his membership of All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he will soon announce his next line of action.
Obaseki, who made his position known to State House correspondents after visiting the Presidential Villa, on Tuesday said his resignation from the ruling party followed his disqualification from the June 22 APC primaries.
Obaseki was disqualified by the APC’s screening committee over alleged discrepancies in his personal and academic records.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of APC also endorsed the disqualification of Obaseki as a candidate for the party’s governorship primaries.
The NWC of APC, led by Oshiomhole, had on June 15 met behind closed doors with the Chief of Staff to the president, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, at the State House, Abuja.
Obaseki had in a statement vowed not to challenge his disqualification by the party, accusing Oshiomhole as the brain behind the disqualification while Oshiomhole said the party was going ahead with its primaries on June 22.
Obaseki, however, said: “You would recall that my statement in my last tweet I said that I will make a decision after my disqualification was announced by APC that I will make a decision after I have consulted with the leadership and my supporters in Edo state and also having informed the president.
“So, I am just here today to inform you that I have now decided formally to resign my membership of All Progressives Congress.
“Having done that I would now announce in the next few days my specific line of action and what platform I will be contesting the gubernatorial elections on.’’
The governor, who dismissed all allegations against him by the party’s screening committee, described his disqualification as unfortunate.
On why he was announcing his resignation while on visit to the State House, the governor said:
“I have said that before I make a decision, I have to show respect to my President, who I adore, who for me is an epitome of incorruptibility, an epitome of order, an epitome of lawfulness.
“This is the man whom for him that is what Nigeria should be all about. I think I owe him that respect to come and tell him what I have done and why I have decided to take the decision I took.’’
Meanwhile, Mr Anselm Ojezua, factional Chairman of APC in Edo, says he will not be leaving the party with the governor.
Ojezua is leading a faction of the APC that was loyal to Gov. Obaseki before his resignation on June 16 from the party.
He said this on Tuesday in a telephone chat with newsmen on his next line of action, following Obaseki’s resignation from the APC after meeting with President Buhari in Abuja.
Ojezua said he would not move with the governor as he was elected as chairman of APC with a four-year mandate, which would expire in 2022.
“I won’t move. As you can see, I still have my mandate as the elected party chairman of APC in Edo which expires by 2020, and I intend to complete that mandate,” he said.
Meanwhile, retired Col David Imuse, factional APC Chairman loyal to Oshiomhole, described Obaseki’s resignation from the party as a welcome development.
Imuse said: “Infact it is much expected and it is a good riddance to bad rubbish.
“The party remains the party, we are preparing for our party primaries. So by Monday all of you should be prepared to witness the direct primaries, which is going to be a seamless operation.
“The party is in a joyous mood, I believe you can feel it from my voice.
“His going to another party will not be affecting the chances of the APC.
“Membership of political parties is voluntary so he can go to anywhere he likes, it is his constitutional right, and has no effect on the APC.”
