Governorship Primary: Edo State Govt Condemns APC For Not Submitting Guidelines

The Edo State Government is patiently watching the moves of the All Progressives Congress as the party plans to hold it governorship primaries today in 192 wards in the state.

Recall that the chairman of the Edo State APC governorship election committee, Hope Uzodinma, on Sunday released the guidelines for the party primary election.

The Imo State Governor further stated that the governorship primaries would hold in all the 192 wards in the state.

Meanwhile, the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government noted that in compliance with its COVID-19 law, the opposition party must apply for a waiver before organising a political gathering in any part of the state.

He further stated that APC has imported thugs into the state with the aim of causing the destruction of lives and property.

Governor Obaseki, on May 28 had released a guideline in the state to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

The Special Adviser On Media to Governor Obaseki, Crusoe OSagie, last week Monday, revealed that any party that wants to organise a gathering must apply for a waiver from the state government and such gathering much be held in one location.

The APC committee on Sunday noted that its guidelines are in compliance with the state government’s COVID-19 regulations.

The spokesperson of the committee, Ajibola Basiru, stated that voting would commence simultaneously at 8am at the 192 wards in the state.

Basiru further stated that 18 persons would be allowed to gather at the same time from the commencement of voting till the end of the exercise when results would be announced.

The party said, “That the process of the election of the candidate of the party shall commence at 8am on Monday, June 22, 2020 at the various wards in all the local government areas with strict compliance with Edo State’s extant law prohibiting gathering of more than 20 persons.”

“Not more than 18 persons including Presiding Officers and Independent National Electoral Commission observers shall be at ward voting centre at any point in time.”

“There shall be simultaneous accreditation and voting in batches as aforesaid until all eligible members have cast their votes without violation of the state’s COVID-19 regulations.”

“Not more than 18 persons shall be in attendance for the announcement of results at all ward centres and collation of results at all levels including the state collation.”

“All members of the party and members of the public are enjoined to be peaceful and comply fully with the state’s COVID-19 regulations.”

The state governor, in his reaction through Osagie, noted that APC needs to share with the state government, information about its guidelines.

Osagie revealed that this would allow the state government to assess the APC programme for the primary election if it is in conformity with its law on COVID-19.

He, however, accused the party of behaving as if it was above the law. He stated that as of 7 pm on Sunday, the APC had yet to apply for a permit for the primary election as stipulated by the state COVID-19 law.

He said, “They have not intimated the government of what they want to do in Edo. All the information they have released as guidelines is the kind of information they would have shared with the government so that the government will know exactly what they are doing and if it fits the regulation we allow them to go ahead, but if it does not fit we tell them to make some amends. They are acting as if they are above the law.”