The Political crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC in Edo state took a new twist a few days ago as a mock primary was held to pick a consensus candidate within the camp of Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the party to go head to head with Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The candidate that emerges from the primary will then challenge Obaseki in the proper primary election of the All Progressives Congress, APC scheduled for June 2020.
Those vying for the ticket under the Oshiomhole faction include ;Egnr. Chris Ogiemonyi, a former Minister of Works and a retired group executive director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Pius Odubu former Deputy governor under Oshiomhole, Dr. Solomon Edebiri a former governorship aspirant, Gen. Charles Airhiavere, a retired Army general the PDP governorship election in 2012 and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in 2016.
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The mock primary was however, botched, with all of the aspirants accusing, Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state and a national levels of the APC and Boss Mustapha, the secretary to government of the federation, SGF of hijacking the process to favour Ize-Iyamu.
They accused the panel led by Prof. Julius Ihonvere of not cresting a fair process, alleging that he was bought over by money bags from Lagos and Aso Rock.
But an aide to Pastor Ize-Iyamu who spoke to NAIJA CENTER correspondent on condition of anonymity denied this allegation, noting that three of the four aspirants had stepped down for his principal.”The claim from them (aspirants) is not true. How can Tinubu be controlling the politics of Edo state? It’s all defence mechanism from them. It’s a mere smokescreen to hide the truth. Boss Mustangs has more important issues he is handling at the moment, don’t forget that he is the head of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, he would not allow himself to be distracted by a mock election within a faction of a party,” he said
He continued; “I can tell you authoritatively that three of the candidates withdrew for Ize-Iyamu ahead of the election. They agreed that he is more popular and accepted than them.”
But a miffed Adams Oshiomhole, who a source within his camp noted that was viciously angry with the outcome of the process and lambasted the panel that included Prof. Julius Ihonvere, Chief Lucky Imansuen, and Gen Cecil Esekhaegbe for a shoddy job and process, noting that it made him look bad.
An obviously angry Oshiomhole quickly disbanded the panel and ordered that the following be put in place. First and foremost, Prof. Julius Ihonvere panel be dissolved and a new panel to conduct a fresh selection process be constituted, a new date and venue should be communicated within a few days, details and modalities of the process be properly stated and mandated all aspirants to take part in the process to forestall bickering over withdrawal or stepping down that is common with such process.
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