*Gov. Godwin Obaseki who has been disqualified by the Edo State APC Screening Committee
The screening committee of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) party has disqualified the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the APC. The battle between Obaseki and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who does not want Obaseki back is alleged to have midwifed the committee into the disqualification hoax.
The committee also disqualified two others from participating in the party’s primary election to select its flagbearer for the Edo governorship election, which holds in a few months. Obaseki according to the screening committee was unfit to qualify on the grounds that his High School Certificate (HSC) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates are defective.
While announcing the result of its screening, the chairman of the committee, Professor Jonathan Ayuba said; “We screen six aspirants that came. Three were deemed eligible to participate while three were deemed ineligible to participate.”
Ayuba said this as he showed a flash drive he referred to as a recording of the screening session and stated there are documents to support “all our findings”. The committee chairman was implored by the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole to reveal the committee’s findings instead of making it discreet. Unveiling the names of the aspirants unfit to contest for the Edo Governorship Election, Ayuba listed; Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, and Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Elucidating the reasons why Obaseki was disqualified, the committee chairman said; “His Excellency Godwin Obaseki nomination form contains the higher school certificate from the institute of continued education in Benin City. Ayuba said the certificate was never submitted in the course of the screening and that Obaseki had admitted he has never collected it.
He also stated that Obaseki’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate was awarded to Obasek Godwin while the aspirant’s name is Obaseki Godwin. Ayuba said the reason for the use of this against the governor was that he has never made any move whatsoever to have the anomaly corrected; thus the need to question its authenticity.
However, Obaseki has said he would not appeal his disqualification because Comrade Oshiomhole will also be the one midwifing the appeal process and have told his supporters to be calm and wait further directives. A meeting of the APC leadership in Edo will hold tomorrow.
Speaking after the screening committee briefing, Oshiomhole said the screening committee report is subject to the appeal committee, “and the appeal committee will give opportunity to all those who have participated” to approach if they have reasons to counter the judgement of the screening committee.
