• About
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Terms
  • Contact
Monday, April 19, 2021
Breaking News Nigeria, Latest Nigerian News
  • Home
  • News
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Review
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Review
No Result
View All Result
Breaking News Nigeria, Latest Nigerian News
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics Featured Section

Obaseki’s defection and APC’s gradual journey to oblivion

by Biodun Busari
June 22, 2020
in Politics Featured Section
0
0
obaseki
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

…Four governors have left APC for PDP since its ascendancy in 2015

The fight between the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his former political boss, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was taken to another dimension on Friday, when the governor officially decamped from All Progressives Congress (APC) to People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

It is noteworthy that PDP gave a waiver for the governor and his deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu to participate in all party’s activities.

The waiver substantiates Obaseki’s defection to the party, as the PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus, disclosed this on his verified Facebook Page that, “The PDP NWC in exercising the power of NEC in accordance with the PDP constitution met and approved the waiver as requested by the ward executive for His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki to participate in all activities of the PDP including voting and be voted for.”

The support will help Obaseki participate in the primaries in June 23, and probably emerge as the PDP governorship candidate.

obaseki
Governor Obaseki after picking his expression of interest and nomination forms at the PDP headquarters, Abuja.

As commendations and criticisms continually flood this development, one cannot but begin to ask if APC has begun its journey to oblivion. Without mincing words, the ruling party is losing might in the states, as this is obviously going to shake its federal might come 2023, except some redemptive measures are devised.

While it is a norm among political leaders to defect from one party to another without due consultations from loyalists and supporters, it should be in the record that the APC that gained national supremacy in 2015 has performed woefully in managing its internal fracas which had seen its four governors left under the leadership of Adams Oshiomhole. They are Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, former governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and now Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.

Also, read: The curse of godfatherism and Oshiomhole’s irrefutable clout in Edo State

In 2018, Samuel Ortom and Aminu Tambuwal, governors of Benue and Sokoto States respectively encountered reckless disparities with the leadership of their former party, All Progressives Congress (APC). Some mechanisms were employed to settle the brawls, but both state leaders could not find common ground to compromise their ideologies, and this underwrote their defection to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) where they got re-elected into their respective offices.

However, the argument is that both Ortom and Tambuwal reiterated their disparities against certain resolutions at the national level which they were not comfortable with. This was what they presented to their loyalists and supporters to gain their massive votes in the gubernatorial elections in 2019.

Still citing the two cases, Ortom categorically lamented after dumping APC for PDP that, “…we had to abandon that platform in search of one that offers more accommodation and support of our policies, especially the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Established Law 2017.” According to Tambuwal after his defection from APC to PDP, “…the nation is, unfortunately, going through the most and precarious times…with ethno-religious and regional distrust at its highest ebb.”

Their arguments were based on the flawed national programmes that adversely affected their states. If that stands, APC national leadership is deficient in handling internal crises costing the defection of its governors.

BREAKING! Obaseki to run under PDP as party grants waiver

In a similar occurrence, it was Oshiomhole’s antics engaged to see the APC National Working Committee (NWC) adopting direct primary for upcoming June 22 primaries, as well as the Screening Committee disqualifying Obaseki from participating in the primaries by citing discrepancies his name and certificates. However, it is worrisome to see the efforts to resolve the rifts between the two political gladiators putting abortive.

APC governors led by its Progressives Governors Forum and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu visited both the embattled Adams Oshiomhole and the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu but their efforts yielded only futility.

At this stage, if partisan politics and its features cannot accommodate the spirit of sportsmanship which APC has failed in, then our democracy is porous, and several questions should be asked. Obaseki officially announced dumping APC after visiting President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

At this juncture, APC should have learnt from its main opposition, the PDP in the journey it took to oblivion after 16 years in control of federal power. In 2013, when PDP endured the poor leadership of Bamanga Tukur, it faced the music of losing five governors under the aegis of G-7 and 37 lawmakers to APC.

It was on this premise among other political strategies that APC capitalised to gain more votes. In one of its meetings to address the issue, former Akwa Ibom State’s Governor, Godswill Akpabio lamented that “Tukur has brought in more problems for the PDP and even the President Goodluck Jonathan is no longer interested in protecting the Chairman.” Can the same not be said of Oshiomhole? It is not negotiable that bad and undemocratic party leadership is cancerous to the survival of the party.

It is imperative for APC to accept that it is dealing with two matters presently. It has to outplay PDP in the gubernatorial poll. It is understandable that the primary election is a dead rubber as another governorship aspirant, Hon. Osaro Obazee has quit the race thereby endorsing Osagie Ize-Iyamu. If Obaseki emerges the PDP governorship flag bearer, the Edo governorship will be between the major contestants of 2016 but both swapping political platforms this time.

Beyond Edo, APC needs to put its house in order. The party’s national stakeholders should converge to salvage what is left if they want to remain in power in 2023. And, this is unrealistic if they persistently anger their governors.

As the Appeal Court has held the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of APC, the death rumours of its acting national chairman, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has already thrown the party into turmoil regardless of the unanimous decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) to appoint APC Vice-Chairman, South-South, Prince Hilliard Eta as the national chairman in an acting capacity.

Oshiomhole’s fate will be finally decided by the Supreme Court, and whichever way it pans out, APC will escape oblivion and thrive politically if the governors currently holding its broom are fairly treated under the democratic principles.   

Tags: APCobasekioshiomholePDP

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
Previous Post

Aston Villa 1 – 2 Chelsea: Blues’ second-half comeback raises top four place

Next Post

COVID-19: Cases exceed 20,000 as fresh infections hit 436

Related Posts

nigeria covid-19 data
Politics Featured Section

Nigeria COVID-19 data suggest second lockdown is inevitable, but Nigerians disagree

July 1, 2020
godfathers
Politics

Obaseki VS Oshiomhole: A sad tale of how political godfatherism leaves an indelible stain on Nigeria’s democracy

June 15, 2020
say no to rape
Politics Featured Section

#RAPE: 5 young Nigerians speak on how government can stem the tide

June 5, 2020
gambari
Politics

How Condoleeza Rice exposed Buhari’s Gambari as an ‘ineffective embarrassment’ – Reno Omokri

May 17, 2020
Next Post
COVID-19 deaths hit 518

COVID-19: Cases exceed 20,000 as fresh infections hit 436

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Stay Connected

  • 5 Followers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Abeokuta Grammar School is 112-year old today

5 facts about 112-year old Abeokuta Grammar School

July 12, 2020
BREAKING: Magu fires back, asks panel to probe AGF on auction of recovered assets

BREAKING: Magu fires back, asks panel to probe AGF on auction of recovered assets

July 12, 2020
BREAKING: President Buhari approves Magu’s  suspension – Malami

BREAKING: President Buhari approves Magu’s suspension – Malami

July 10, 2020
buraimoh

JUST IN: Lagos lawmaker, Tunde Buraimoh is dead

July 10, 2020
Hushpuppi hires experienced Chicago criminal defence lawyer

US lawyer reveals how Hushpuppi made his money

July 10, 2020
Daring blogger insists Osinbajo collected N4bn from Magu, asks panel to publish embattled EFCC chief’s confessions

Daring blogger insists Osinbajo collected N4bn from Magu, asks panel to publish embattled EFCC chief’s confessions

July 10, 2020

Recent News

Abeokuta Grammar School is 112-year old today

5 facts about 112-year old Abeokuta Grammar School

July 12, 2020
BREAKING: Magu fires back, asks panel to probe AGF on auction of recovered assets

BREAKING: Magu fires back, asks panel to probe AGF on auction of recovered assets

July 12, 2020
BREAKING: President Buhari approves Magu’s  suspension – Malami

BREAKING: President Buhari approves Magu’s suspension – Malami

July 10, 2020
buraimoh

JUST IN: Lagos lawmaker, Tunde Buraimoh is dead

July 10, 2020
Breaking News Nigeria, Latest Nigerian News

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Breaking News
  • Business
  • Business Editor's Pick
  • Entertainment
  • Featured
  • Food
  • Football
  • General
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Mobile
  • Movie
  • Music
  • News
  • Politics
  • Politics Featured Section
  • Review
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Startup
  • Tech
  • Technology
  • Technology Featured Section
  • Uncategorized
  • World

Recent News

Abeokuta Grammar School is 112-year old today

5 facts about 112-year old Abeokuta Grammar School

July 12, 2020
BREAKING: Magu fires back, asks panel to probe AGF on auction of recovered assets

BREAKING: Magu fires back, asks panel to probe AGF on auction of recovered assets

July 12, 2020
BREAKING: President Buhari approves Magu’s  suspension – Malami

BREAKING: President Buhari approves Magu’s suspension – Malami

July 10, 2020
  • About
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Terms
  • Contact

© 2020 Nigeria Today News - All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result

© 2020 Nigeria Today News - All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.

Subscribe With Nigeria Today News