Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State said he is opposed to direct primary adopted by the National Working Committee for political and Public health issues.
Speaking on Channels Tv on Sunday evening, Obaseki said the APC constitution gives the state party the right to adopt the mode of primary ahead of the governorship election.
The primary is scheduled to hold on June 22 and has generated buzz from both factions.
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Obaseki, while explaining the public health issues said “Our responses to COVID-19 in Edo has been based on data and public research. We have responded base on the information. We commissioned an epidemiological survey before we had our search.
“In Edo today we have three PCR isolation centre. Despite the measures put in place we have not been able to conquer the trend. Our index case was on the 23rd of March. It took sixty days up to May 17 to have the first 100 cases, it took another 10 days to move from 100 to 200 cases and now it took 5 days to move from 200 to 300 cases. Therefore, the virus is at the critical stage when it’s spreading rapidly.
It will be jeopardizing the health of the citizens of Edo State to allow the party to conduct primaries in 200 locations in Edo State.
When asked if he had written to the National body to warn against the consequences of the direct primary, Obaseki said”We have advised them. We have written, in fact, we had to promulgate, amend the infection disease regulation to ensure that we don’t have more than 20 people gathered in a place but for the purpose of politics, we said fine, we don’t have the resource and we will not advise the regulatory body, INEC expose its staff.
“The option is for us to have the primary conducted in one location where people can be screen and disinfect the environment and make sure the social distancing is maintained.
The governor also said whether he would participate in a direct primary depends on the transparency of the process.
“I would not violate the party constitution. You don’t expect my party to behave unlawfully.”
Speaking on how Oshiomhole wrote the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) three days before the NWC adopted the direct primary, Obaseki said: “Even that has a problem because he didn’t follow our constitution.”
The governor added “Politics will come and go but we should not risk the lives of our citizens on the altar of politics today. I have 350 as at today and my projection is that it is going to be to 1000s. Should I as a responsible governor sit back, and say, because of politics I will allow my people to die? If I do, God will not forgive me.
Obaseki also confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari endorsed his re-election, urging those who doubted it to submit their nomination form before the President.
“What do you think? For the body language and relationship, will the President take a photograph with me and share my form with me if he is not happy that I am seeking re-election?”
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