PDP Speaks On Obaseki’s Disqualification, Admitting Him Into Party

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kola Ologbondiyan, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, said his party will accept Obaseki if the governor decides to join the main opposition party.

Asked if the PDP was ready to admit the governor into its fold, Ologbondiyan told The Nation: “Yes, we will accept him, of course.”

Ologbondiyan, however, insisted that Godwin Obaseki would not be automatically given the PDP Edo State governorship ticket.

“Joining a party is different from contesting election. These are two separate things. People join political parties from their wards. We are in touch with our Edo State chapter and they have not told us that the governor had joined our party,” Ologbondiyan said.

Three aspirants seeking the PDP ticket for the Edo election had already been screened, signaling the close of nominations.

It was gathered that the PDP had envisaged Obaseki’s eventual defection from the APC and that the opposition party had prepared ahead for him.

A party source hinted that the eventual winner of the PDP ticket might be persuaded to withdraw from the race for Obaseki on agreed terms.

Naija News reports that Obaseki was on Friday disqualified by the APC screening committee for the Edo governorship primary.

Jonathan Ayuba, chairman of the screening committee, confirmed this while presenting his report to Adams Oshiomhole, APC national chairman, at the national secretariat in Abuja.

Obaseki was disqualified by the screening committee on the grounds that his HSC and NYSC certificates are defective.