The past weeks have been a turbulent one for the ruling political party, the All Progressives Congress, a lot of criticism and counter-criticism have occurred towards the forthcoming gubernatorial elections to hold in Ondo state and Edo state. The party has seemed not to get it together in Edo following the riff that happened between the incumbent Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his supposed political godfather Adams Oshiomole.
There were instances of him, taking decisions against his interest and denying him chances of having a say in his governance. He also proclaimed that he would win a second term election without the help of the party chairman.
It therefore didn’t come as a surprise when the Edo State APC declared Obaseki unqualified to participate in the party’s primaries let alone the governorship election, citizens were quick to jump into conclusion that this happened because of the issues he’s having with his godfather. The governor has however defected to the opposition party, PDP and though he had issues with other candidates who refused to step down for him at the beginning, things seem to have fallen into place for him now.
Shortly after this, the APC chairman got suspended from office by a court sitting and the party was faced with the decision of appointing an acting chairman. Court orders began to fly left and right as the party claimed to have appointed Late Abiola Ajimobi, former Governor of Oyo state weeks before he died as acting chairman, the national deputy chairman also raised claims that a court order had affirmed him as the right person to take up the position of the acting chairman.
In a bid to resolve these issues the president called for a National Executive Meeting of the party on Wednesday and the following resolutions were made:
The NWC was dissolved
A caretaker committee was set up with the Governor of Yobe, Mai Mala Buni as it’s chair
The caretaker committee was also saddled with the responsibility of organizing a convention for the party within 6months.
Following these resolutions, lots of allegations crepted on social media that the NWC was dissolved all in a bid to oust Oshiomole off his position.
Speaking at the Liberating Nigeria online show, Debo Onifade, author of the book “Liberating Nigeria: A Guide to winning elections and reviving our country” and convener of Nigerians top online political forum www.liberatingnigeria.com applauded the efforts of the president at resolving the in-house issues the party faced but reprimanded Obaseki for engaging in a face-off with his godfather.
He asserted that as much as he encouraged young politicians like the governor to get into government and do good, he doesn’t support turning against people who helped them get to the position. He said Obaseki could have found a better way of pacifying Oshiomole while ensuring that he put the people’s interest at heart. On plans of having Oshiomole and Tinubu ousted out of the party, Onifade stated that he doesn’t see that happening, he described Tinubu as godfather of the party and as only trying to lay low and set things right for his 2023 presidential ambition.
Onifade opined that he doesn’t see Obaseki emerging winner of the forthcoming elections because the ruling party’s candidate Osagie Ize-Iyamu is popular amongst the people and has garnered a lot of support from members of his party unlike Obaseki at the PDP.
The forthcoming elections becomes a fight between a ruler wanting to retain his position and an aspirant who wants to take the seat, however, the decision of who wins the governorship seat lies in the hands of the people.