APC Governors To Meet Tinubu, Buhari Over Obaseki

The tussle for the number one seat at the Dennis Osadebey Edo State Government House hots up as a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has selected Osagie Ize-Iyamu to go against incumbent Godwin Obaseki.

This has not gone down well with some governors elected on the platform of the APC, who have taken it upon themselves to find a solution to the political crisis rocking the state.

It was gathered that the governors have resolved to meet with the National Leader of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The meeting, which is believed to be connected to last-minute efforts to ensure Obaseki clinches the party’s ticket for the forthcoming governorship election in the state, is scheduled to hold today (Sunday).

Speaking to The Punch on Saturday, a source stated that the meeting was at the instance of the governors, noting that a delegation of the governors would meet with Tinubu to seek his intervention preparatory to further talks with President Muhammadu Buhari on the issue.

“The meeting with Tinubu is essentially to seek his intervention in the crisis rocking the party in Edo State.

“Part of the conditions being worked on, which the governor is expected to meet, is to swear in the remaining members of the state House Assembly who have yet to be sworn in,” the source said.

Also speaking on the move to bring lasting peace to the Edo State APC, another party source stated that it was too late to reconcile Obaseki and the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.

“The train has since left the station. It is too late in the day to find common ground on the Obaseki issue.

“We expect all aspirants (governorship) to go to the field to test their popularity. This is the language of democracy,” he said.

One APC governor told The Punch that the party governors would do whatever they could do to save Obaseki.

He said: “We will see what we can do to make things right. Whatever is in our power as progressive governors we would do in the interest of our party and in the interest of the people of Edo State. We may also see the President on the issue.”

Asked if the direct primary election sanctioned by the party at the national level was not meant to swing the result of the governorship primary against Obaseki, the source said “we shall see.”