APC Governors Seek Soft-landing For Obaseki
Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC on Saturday night met via teleconference and agreed to work towards strengthening internal party mechanisms for the selection of candidates in the Edo and Ondo Governorship Primaries.
Although a terse statement issued by the governors under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum PGF was silent on the fate of Gov. Godwin Obaseki who was disqualified at the weekend from participating in the June 22 primary election of the party in Edo state, a source who was privy to the outcome of the meeting said there are ongoing engagements to resolve all issues in the Edo and Ondo state chapters of the party.
The source said: “I know there are several engagements still ongoing to resolve some of the controversial steps taken by the APC NWC. We might likely see a reversal of some of these decisions because the feeling is that NWC does not have the powers to do some of the things they did regarding Edo.
So, the governors are still engaging with all concerned stakeholders”.
However, the governors in their resolution reached after an emergency teleconference meeting late Saturday, pledges to work towards the unity of the party.
In a vague Communiqué signed by Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum PGF and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the governors expressed confidence that the party would resolve its current challenges and emerge stronger.
According to the Communiqué, the participants “unanimously reaffirmed the commitment of all Progressive Governors to work for the unity of our party;
“Collectively agreed to work to ensure strengthening fair and democratic internal party mechanism for the selection of party candidates in all elections, especially in respect of Edo and Ondo States 2020 Governorship elections.
“Forum members are confident that the party will resolve all current challenges and emerge stronger”. The governors’ position nonetheless, the national leadership of the party said it has already taken a final position on the matter.
The National Working Committee NWC of the party had on Saturday night sealed the fate of Gov. Godwin Obaseki by approving the decisions of the Screening Committee as well as the Appeal Committee which had earlier disqualified him from the race.
National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole made the announcement on Saturday night shortly after a meeting of the NWC.
The party also approved the expulsion of a governorship aspirant, Hon. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen and the deputy state chairman of the party in Edo, Kenneth Asakomeh.
The party’s Appeal Committee had moments before Oshiomhole’s announcement submitted its own report to the NWC, explaining that it received complaints from only one of the aspirants.
In its report, the committee upheld Friday’s decision of the party’s Screening Committee which disqualified Mr Obaseki from the race.
“It is inconceivable that the same University will award two certificates with separate dates for the same graduate. We also find it difficult to vouch for the authenticity of his NYSC certificate, there is no indication as to where he served”, the committee held.
Led by Prof. Abubakar Fari, other members of the appeal committee were Prof. Sadeeque Abba, Barr. Gbenga Olubajo, Mohammed Idris, Esther Bepeh and Barr. Daniel Bwala who served as Secretary.
Presenting the report, Fari said, “We looked at the grounds on which he was disqualified and I would like to say his disqualification was based on solid grounds.”
“We found the Screening Committee findings on the other two as justified. In respect of Mathew, the appeal committee in the course of reviewing the report of the Screening Committee observed that it failed to make a finding and draw a conclusion of his prejudicial finding of filing a legal action against the National Chairman and the party itself. We reached the conclusion that such conduct runs contrary to Article 21 (D) 5 of the party’s 2014 Constitution as amended.
Having failed to exhaust internal mechanisms for seeking redress in the party prior to instituting the action and pursuant to the same provision.
As a result of that, we upheld the decision of the Screening Committee that he should be disqualified and he is so disqualified by the appeal Committee.”
