Two major political parties in Edo State – the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) recently emerged from their respective primary elections, more divided and acrimonious. Who will save these two powerful forces from the abyss of disintegration?
Special report by Kingsley Abavo
If the latest developments in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the major opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State are anything to go by, the two candidates, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Osagie Ize – Iyamu that emerged from the primaries held on June 18 and 20, 2016 respectively, may be having their hopes hung on the cliffhanger.
This has now become the worry for the candidates and their supporters since the aftermath of the parties’ primaries have rather been stormy with controversies, with accusations and counter accusations.
Both political parties have not known peace, making their future look hazy in their positioning for the September 10 governorship election.
Not satisfied with the outcome of the primary election in the APC family, the duo of Engr. (Dr.) Chris Ogiemwonyi, and Kenneth Imasuagbon who were aspirants on the party’s platform staged a protest, alleging scientific and electronic rigging of the primary in favor of Governor Oshiomhole’s preferred aspirant, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
Consequently, they lodged a petition with the National Headquarters of the party, something that appears to be causing significant tremor, even in the Presidency with the fear of losing Edo State if not properly handled.
They claimed to have evidence that the ballot papers used in the exercise were printed in Benin, the State capital by an individual with vested interest in Obaseki’s emergence as the party’s candidate. Hence they were scientifically designed to favor him, thus eroding the support of delegates for other aspirants, according to their allegations.
Also, they alleged harassment and intimidation of their supporters, mopping of delegates’ PVCs, among other undemocratic devices, deployed by Obaseki’s sponsors prior to the primary. They argue that all things being equal, either of them or even the deputy governor, Pius Odubu could have emerged the winner.
The duo called for cancellation of the entire exercise, forensic screening, and re-sorting of the ballot papers. The national leadership of the party in Abuja in response has raised an investigative panel to look into the issues raised.
Making the situation now dicey, the Electoral Committee that was supposed to have submitted its report on Friday, June 24, 2016, could not, citing contentious issues raised by the petitioners as reasons. The Committee says there was need to look into the issues raised.
It declared that if any ground to nullify the primary is found in the petition, it would not hesitate to do so. This is important for the image of the APC, promoting justice, equity and fairness, it added.
Consequently, all the aspirants that participated in the APC June 18 primaries were last Thursday summoned to Abuja for a meeting with the Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Engr. Babachir David Lawal.
Although the outcome of the meeting was not made public, it was part of presidential initiatives to resolve the issue related to the controversial nomination exercise, now tearing the once united party apart in the state.
However, to settle dust raised by the primary, Governor Oshiomhole had set up a reconciliatory Committee to meet with all the aspirants that lost, aggrieved persons and their supporters towards brokering peace, but Imasuagbon and Ogiemwonyi have refused to be pacified until justice is not only done but seen to have been done.
Also angered by perceived manipulation of the primary in favor of Obaseki, APC chieftain, Mrs. Evelyn Igbafe, a strong mobilizer and supporter of the Ogiemwonyi governorship project, had expressed reservation about the ability of Obaseki’s candidacy to give the party victory in the September 10 governorship election, saying he is not marketable, comparing him to rotten tomatoes and mangoes.
Without much of a surprise, last Thursday, Oshiomhole’s axe fell on Mrs. Igbafe who had raised an alarm that the ex-labor leader was sponsoring attacks against her.
An attempt was made to remove her official vehicles which she resisted, just as her security aides were withdrawn after government sacked her from the position she held as the Executive Director, Poverty Alleviation Agency of the State. What puzzled several people was that the government made her termination retroactive to June 1, 2016.
She cried being victimized for taking her critical stand against actions of the Governor, the party primary and emergence of Obaseki as APC governorship candidate. “We are in democracy, I have right to freedom of speech,” Igbafe stated in protest.
In the same vein, suggesting unpredictable future for the Obaseki candidacy, party sources said there are heavy weight personalities in the power broking equation of the State that are not also happy with his emergence as the APC candidate and are allegedly putting pressure on the party to act now before it becomes too late.
Now, saying that the atmosphere in the party is tense is an understatement. Similarly, the story is not in any way different with the main opposition PDP family, since pastor politician Osagie Ize – Iyamu emerged as its governorship candidate.
The plea of the Electoral Committee, and Ize – Iyamu asking that the PDP should remain one big family as there could only be one person as candidate seems not to have made any meaning to Mr. Solomon Edebiri and Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen as they have shifted ground to pitch tent with the Ali Modu Sheriff – led faction of the party.
About 48 hours after the emergence of Ize – Iyamu as PDP governorship candidate, Ali Modu Sheriff who claims to be the legitimate national chairman of PDP issued an order nullifying the Edo governorship primary for allegedly failing to comply with the stipulation of the party constitution and sacking the Dan Orbih led – Edo State Executive.
Immediately, he released a timetable scheduling June 23 – 29, 2016 for another party congress. But surprisingly, no activity in this direction has been seen anywhere in the State.
Meanwhile, three aspirants; Solomon Edebiri, Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, both contestants against Ize – Iyamu in the June 20 PDP primary, and House of Representatives member, Johnson Agbonayima reportedly have picked nomination and expression of interest form from the Sheriff- led PDP faction, thus giving value to it and its directives.
A Lagos High Court had ruled that Modu Sheriff is the recognized national chairman of the PDP and no contrary ruling has emerged yet.
But in response, Dan Orbih has dismissed the claim of Modu Sheriff and his faction, arguing that the Markafi led PDP which the Edo chapter subscribes to itself, remains the recognized one, saying the June 20 party governorship primary which produced Ize – Iyamu as candidate stands and is irrevocable.
Observers commenting on the unfolding developments, cite the Anambra 2011 governorship election as a case study where PDP was also factionalized and fielded two different candidates which were only decided in the law court, with the faction that got court ruling in its favor having the candidate.
They expressed the fear that PDP may end up fielding two candidates in the September 10 governorship election and a repeat of the Anambra situation may again be the case as harmony in the party is not likely soon.
With the prevailing circumstance, what to expect in the build-up to the September 10 governorship election remains unsure as anything could happen.
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