Following series of engagement between Governor Godwin Obaseki and the national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party over possibility of picking party ticket for Edo 2020 Governorship election after his disqualification by APC screening committee, the embattled governor has been give three conditions.
The PDP top hierarchy have directed Governor Obaseki to take some steps before he could be admitted to be the party’s candidate in the coming election.
A credible source as reported by Sunday PUNCH said, the chief among the conditions was the directive that he (Obaseki) should meet with the three PDP governorship aspirants screened by the party’s screening committee for the primary
The three screened PDP aspirants were Gideon Ikhine, Ogbeide Ihama and Kenneth Imansuangbon. It was gathered that only one of the aspirants insisted that he would not step down for the governor.
They also directed the governor to meet with the party leadership in the state to seek their support and understanding.
The source said there was no way the national PDP would support the governor without the approval of its officials in the state, including the aspirants.
Investigations showed that the party leadership was afraid that if leaders in the state were not carried along in the arrangement, it could boomerang and lead to the defection of aggrieved members to either the APC or any other political party after the primary.
“We at the national level are not interested in imposing the governor or anyone on the party in the state. He is going to be their governor and the people of the state are the voters. Our own is to campaign for him and our party.” the source explained.
Findings revealed that Edo PDP leadership might demand for deputy governorship slot and written agreement before supporting the governor seeking second term to run on their platform.
FactualTimes Correspondent in Benin reports that Edo PDP Primaries will hold on Friday June 19 at Ogbemudia Stadium
