By Jimi Anjolaoluwa – Abuja
The National Chairnan of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomole on Monday sealed the fate of the embattled Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki as the former insisted that the June 22 party’s governorship primary would be conducted through direct option.
Oshiomole pronouncement came after a three hour meeting between the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and members of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.
Answering questions from newsmen after the meeting, the party Chairman maintained that the direct primary option the NWC adopted recently stands as against Obaseki’s preferred option of position of indirect primary.
“The issues of primaries are well spelt out in our constitution and we are following it as strictly as possible. So nothing to worry about at all.
“We have since published our time table because under the law we are required to give INEC at least 21 days notice to monitor our primaries and to State the mode of our primaries and of course NWC had approved direct primaries for Edo.
“We have commenced the sale of forms, I think as of last Friday to my knowledge three people had picked the forms. I think by today more people have picked the forms. So we’re selling forms to all those who wish to buy based on the guidelines and of course as the Chairman of the Progressives Governors rightly said, we have ensured in our letter to INEC and even this morning we had a virtual meeting with INEC leadership we will conduct primaries taking into account the protocols on Covid-19 by the PTF and NCDC. I think everything has been going fine”.
On the Ondo State primary, the chairman said, “That of Ondo has not been discussed because that will come much later, because Edo will come about three weeks before Ondo,” but the Chairman gave a tacit endorsement of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s second term bid, as he said the governor has done well.
Earlier the Kebbi State Governor and the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu said the meeting was in fulfilment of an arrangement the forum had to be meeting regularly with the party leadership on how to move the party forward.
Bagudu who led members of the forum to a similar meeting with the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday in Lagos, said that the meeting with NWC had nothing to do with Edo Governorship primary but to discuss some sundry issues with the party leadership.
“This meeting was not a continuation of yesterday’s (Lagos) meeting. This a meeting with the national leadership of our party to discuss issues between the Governor’s Forum and party leadership that will lead to the progress of our party,” Gov. Bagudu disclosed.
The governors present at the meeting include the Chairman Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) – Atiku Bagudu, Plateau State Governor – Simon Lalong, Lagos State Governor- Babagide Sanwo-Olu, Gombe State Governor – Mohammed Inuwa, Kano State Governor – Umur Ganduje and their Ondo State counterpart – Olurotimi Akeredolu.
National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole led members of the NWC, which included, the Acting National Secretary, Arch Waziri Bulama, National Vice Chairman, North East, Mustapha Salihu, National Vice Chairman, South West, Pastor Oluwalana and National Organising Secretary, Emma Ibediro. Others were National Woman Leader, Salamatu Baiwa and Special (Physically Challenged) leader
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