Edo 2016: How Godwin Obaseki wins APC guber ticket

Godwin Obaseki, in the early hours of Sunday emerged winner of the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeating other 11 aspirants to clinch the party’s ticket as the flag bearer in the September governorship poll.

The primary election held at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium Benin city was supervised by Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state.

2,873 delegates from 192 wards of Edo state were accredited for the primary election.

Obaseki scored a total of 1618 votes to emerge APC’s flag bearer over his closest rival, Pius Odubu who happens to be current deputy governor, having 471 votes.

See breakdown of the results per candidate below;

Agbarha Justina                                           3

Chris Ogiemwonyi                                        137

Oserheimen Osunbor                                     10

Godwin Obaseki                                            1618

Kenneth Imansuangbon                                 247

Blessing Agbomhere                                      5

Charles Airhiavbere                                         11

Fredrick Amadasun                                         8

Emmanuel Arigbe-Osula                                 10

Austin Emuan                                                 7

Peter Esele                                                     8

NEWSVERGE recalled that 930 delegates and members of Edo in Safe Hands led by the state Commissioner of Works, Osarodion Ogie, had on Wednesday endorsed Godwin Obaseki as candidate of the party.

The decision was reached at a rally, held at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Benin City was sequel to a motion moved by a member of the group, Dickson Osaretin after the entire delegates collated their signatures.

The delegates cut across the 192 wards in the state and other leaders of the group present which included the member representing Etsako Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Philip Shuaibu and members of the state executive council.

The chairman of the group, Washington Osifo, in his address said they acknowledged the fact that all the aspirants contesting under the APC are eminently qualified but they believe Obaseki has the best credential to continue the good works of the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led administration.

“At a time like this, taking into cognisance the dwindling resources accruing to our dear state, we need a seasoned economist, manager, and technocrat with proven economic managerial ability coupled with the required political exposure to effectively steer the ship of our dear state, so as to sustain, improve and build on the legacies of the Oshiomhole administration.

“We appeal to other delegates to the Edo State 2016 APC governorship primaries to embrace, support and vote our adopted aspirant, Obaseki.” He said.

Although, members of the APC and delegates in the Saturday governorship primaries staged a protest against what they described as the forceful and illegal collection of their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

The protesting delegate who addressed journalists under the aegis of Concerned Edo Progressives while expressing shock over the mopping up of PVCs from delegates across the three senatorial districts alleged that the PVCs were being collected on behalf of an aspirant claim to be acting on the request of the state Government.

In a protest letter signed by Okoh John and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Security Adviser (NSA), the Inspector General of Police and the Director General, Department of State Services, (DSS), read in parts: “It has become necessary to bring this ugly situation to your attention because these agents that are collecting the PVCs on behalf of one of the aspirants claim to be acting on the request of Edo State government officials.

“We cannot reconcile the interest of Edo State Government in the forceful collection of PVCs with the internal democracy of APC.

“This situation has already created high tension among the members of APC in particular and Edo public in general.”