Leave Edo Alone, Indirect Primaries Must Hold – Philip Shaibu Slams Oshiomhole

Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of Edo State, has insisted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will conduct an indirect primary to select its governorship candidate.

Naija News reports that the Edo APC had opted for indirect primary, but a faction loyal to the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole pushed for direct primary.

Subsequently, the national working committee of the APC adopted direct primary.

In a statement by his media aide, Benjamin Atu, Philip Shaibu accused Adams Oshiomhole of trying to take control of Edo State.

According to the Deputy Governor, unlike Oshiomhole, Uche Secondus, the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), does not interfere in PDP states.

Shaibu said: “PDP has a national chairman for instance, the national chairman of PDP doesn’t usurp the sovereignty of the PDP states.

“The sovereignty of the state can’t be submerged at this critical juncture of our lives. The indirect primary will make it more convenient for INEC to supervise and will be more transparent.

“The APC national chairman is insisting on direct primary because the result of the yet to be conducted direct primary election is already written by him, just waiting to be announced.

“The state is sovereign but not enjoying its sovereignty because some few people are determined to ruin the State by hand twisting the government and Governor as a stooge. What the APC national chairman is doing is trying to usurp the powers of the state governor by thinking and making decisions for the government of Edo state.

“John Oyegun was the former governor of Edo state and he didn’t usurp Oshiomhole’s power in the name of ex-Governor Oshiomhole is not the first ex-Governor in Nigeria. He should give the people and government of Edo state peace to enable them reason collectively together.

“Obaseki is currently the governor of Edo state and his office must be respected because we can only have one governor at a time. He has spoken and there is no going back on indirect primary. Direct primary will heighten COVID-19 transmission and infection at the community stage and the state is not ready for such an emergency.”