Barely 72 hours after Edo State embattled Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was disqualified by All Progressives Congress (APC) from the state gubernatorial race, a denial of his second term ticket, the governor has begun signaling his next line of action by identifying with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Obaseki’s first move which indicates his intention to fight to the finish was his visit to River State Governor, Nyesom Wike, one of PDP ruling state governor.
The embattled governor’s visit to Wike on Sunday cannot be disassociated from his decision to pay back APC for the alleged wrongdoing against him.
Although, hours after the said disqualification of Obaseki, there had been speculations that PDP members have been reaching out to the embattled governor as concerned Nigerians that felt he was not well treated by APC and have assured him of a warm welcome whenever he decides to embrace the party’s ideology.
There were rumours that a Nigerian former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, also reach out to Obaseki, but the outcomes of their discussions were not assertive, even though, it was suspected that the governor will eventually decamp to PDP.
Sources within the Edo state government house told Guild that Obaseki supporters were ready to lay their lives down for the embattled governor and that they were only waiting for his directives on the next line of action.
They said that the supporters across all wards as well as lawmakers were ready to follow Obaseki wherever he chooses to go and ensure he returns as the governor of the state.
One of the sources, who is close to Obaseki, confided in The Guild that, there was a strong possibility that the governor will likely go to another party for him to seal the gubernatorial ticket since his disqualification was unreconciliable.
He explained that the fact that both the screen and appeal committee of the APC maintained grounds on Obaseki’s disqualification were enough reasons for the governor to understand that there was no going back and that his fate had been sealed.
Another source from the APC in Edo state stated that the matter had gone worse than it was expected and that the party is already divided over the disqualification of the governor.
He disclosed that the party was already divided and that there were various camps that had concluded plans to leave should the governor ready to leave APC so far the new party will honour him the gubernatorial ticket.
The source further explained that the governor’s decision at the end of the day would not be a matter of desperation but a case of one who was passionate to serve the people of Edo state and introduce policies and programmes that will bring more development to Edo.
CRUSOE’S VOICE NOTE
Meanwhile, National Publicity Secretary, PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, told The Guild that the party would be willing to welcome Obaseki and his supporters into the PDP and that process must start from the embattled governor’s ward, to state chapter of the party before his reception at the national level.
He disclosed that PDP at national was aware of crisis rocking APC in Edo, the governor’s disqualification from racing in the party forthcoming gubernatorial primary elections and party politics presenting consuming the ruling party the state.
“We are yet to be briefed of any development but what we know is that our party, PDP, doors are open to welcome as many as possible Nigerians willing to join in serving the nation”.
Once our party in Edo reaches out to us, our job at the national level of PDP is to weigh options on the ground and align accordingly but whoever wants to join the party but start from the ward to the state before the national level.
“It process and procedure and the order must be from bottom to top not otherwise”.
