Edo 2020: Why Obaseki Did Not Want to End-up Like Ambode

When the chieftain of the All Progressives Congress Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu decided the fate of a serving Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode by making sure that he lost at the primary, many other politicians like Adams Oshiomhole thought that they should be able to do the same.

For many years godfatherism has been the bane of politics in Nigeria and a similar scenario is currently playing out in Eo state where the party Chairman Aams Oshiomhole instigated the disqualification of the sitting governor Godwin Obaseki. They have been both involved in a serious political disagreement over loyalty issues.

Governor Obaseki first struck when he suspended Adams Oshiomhole from the party. His actions raised eyebrows since Oshiomhole was the party’s national chairman but he was able to get his position back after he was affirmed by the court. Since then Oshiomhole vowed that Obaseki will not become the flag bearer of the APC thus denying him a second term under the APC platform.

Meetings were held and assurances were provided that Obaseki will get fair treatment from the APC screening committee. On the very day of the screening, there were allegations that the committee refused to screen the governor. It was at night the news made the rounds that he was screened and then disqualified by the committee.

Governor Ambode of Lagos state faced a similar disgrace eve after calling a world press conference to lament about the dictatorship of Tinubu the renowned national leader of the APC. Tinubu did not stop Ambode from contesting the party’s primary election but his men made sure that Ambode lost to his rival Sanwolu.

Ambode followed the party’s campaign train in Lagos asking Lagosians to vote for Tinubu’s choice Sanwuolu who eventually won the state governorship election. But Governor Godwin Obaseki does not want a repeat of the Ambode scenario.

He along with the speaker of the state house of Assembly and many local government chairmen on Tuesday formally announced their resignation from the APC. Despite speculations, they have not officially joined the opposition PDP.

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