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Finally, the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) following years of continued hassles that led to his disqualification from the party’s primary for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Governor Obaseki announced the resignation of his membership from APC while addressing State House Correspondents on Tuesday.
Insinuations are high that he will defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The embattled governor had held a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.
He was accosted by journalists on his way out of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
While answering questions from State House Correspondents, he informed that he has tendered his resignation.
He also debunked allegations that his credentials were not original.
He made the announcement four days after he was screened out and declared unfit to participate in the APC primary election ahead of the September 19 governorship poll in Edo State.
On Friday last week, the Screening Committee led by Professor Jonathan Ayuba submitted its report to the party’s leadership after it screened Governor Obaseki who is seeking re-election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, and four other aspirants.
The other aspirants include Dr Pius Odubu, Chris Ogiemwonyi, Osaro Obazee, and Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.
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While presenting the committee’s report, Professor Ayuba informed the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and other chieftains at the party’s secretariat that Governor Obaseki and two others were screened out, but Ize-Iyamu and two other aspirants were cleared to participate in the primaries.
He explained that Governor Obaseki was disqualified on the grounds that his HSC and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates were “defective”.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, briefing reporters at the State House in Abuja on June 16, 2020.
The disqualification of the governor was criticised by some individuals and groups who alleged that it could be a fallout of the lingering dispute between him and his predecessor, Oshiomhole.
Although Governor Obaseki had taken some reconciliatory moves before the screening exercise, he told Channels Television in an earlier interview that he does not expect to get justice.
In his reaction shortly after his disqualification by the screening committee chairman on Democracy Day, the governor said he would not appeal the decision.
{Additional report by Channels]
