UPDATED: Obaseki Submits Nomination Form, Tells Oshiomhole To Stay Away From APC Primaries

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has submitted his expression of interest and nomination form at the national secretariat of the ruling All progressive Congress (APC) in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after the submission of the form, Obaseki asked the party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole step aside from the party’s governorship primaries in the state because he is an interested party.

“I am using this opportunity to call on Comrade Oshiomhole to recuse himself from the Edo nomination process because he is an interested party,” he said.

“It is against natural justice for a man to be a judge in his own case.

So I think the honourable thing to do is to recuse himself and let us have a free process and let us reconcile and build our party.”

Commenting on the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and Oshiomhole’s insistence on direct primaries as the mode to elect the party’s candidate for the September election in the state, the governor expressed confidence of a victory, regardless of the method adopted in electing its candidate, but added that the party’s constitution must be obeyed with respect to the voting method.

“The basis of any democracy are rules; that is why the most important document in our party is our constitution. Our constitution is very detailed and it spells out clearly how we should undertake our affairs as a party.

“The constitution stipulates what mode of primaries are allowed in our party and how decisions to the type of primaries you want to run should be arrived that. It is clearly stated in our constitution and so for me, I believe that ours is a lawful party and we will do things according to the constitution of our party.

“So, direct or indirect, I am certain I will win the primaries but we have to respect our constitution and follow our constitution.”

He further dismissed speculations of a move to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that he is a party man to the core.

“It is very absurd. I am someone that is very exposed. How can I collect from two parties when we have had rulings in the past disqualifying people on that basis. I am a party man to the core,” said Obaseki.

“APC is my party because I come from a progressive political family. I believe in the ideals of APC, I believe in our President, I believe in what he stands for, so I am a party man to the core. I am not an old-style politician. I represent a new direction of politics that is based on facts and truth, not lies.”

The governor who is now seeking re-election, will go head to head with Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who is believed to have the backing of the party’s national chairman.

The showdown will take place on Monday, June 22; the day fixed for the APC primaries in the state.