As June 22, 2020 date fixed for the primary election to pick the governorship candidate for All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Edo State election gets nearer, what is described as “authoritarianism and tyranny” of National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, in the process has been exposed.
This followed revelations that the national chairman mislead the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the mode of primary whereby he said the party agreed on Direct Primary, against reality on the ground.
It will be recalled that Edo State chapter of the party had also described Oshiomole as being economical with the truth when he said Governor Godwin Obaseki did not notify him or his National Working Committee (NWC) of his preference for Indirect Primary.
But the state APC, which said it was not the business of the governor but the state Executive Council to notify the NWC, revealed that it duly notified the national body and provided documents to back its claims.
A further report on manipulation of the process by the national chairman revealed that he had informed INEC of the decision of the party even three days before the NWC actually sat to reach the decision.
“Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), informed INEC that the party had agreed to choose its governorship candidate for the Edo election through direct primary, even before the national working committee of the party took the decision.
The NWC, headed by Oshiomhole, reached the decision on May 22 but Oshiomhole had written to Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, three days earlier.
In the letter dated May 19, according to the report, Oshiomhole said the party had agreed that direct primary would be conducted in 192 wards.
“I convey to you my compliments and wish to respectfully inform you that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to conduct direct primary for the Edo state governorship election on Monday, 22 of June. 2020,” the letter read.
“To this end we have put in place modalities to ensure strict compliance with the COVID-19 prevention guidelines as announced by the COVID-19 presidential task force (PTF) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“Therefore, direct primaries will be conducted in one hundred and ninety two wards (192).
“We accordingly invite you as observers of the primaries with full compliance with the All Progressives Congress constitution and the electoral act,” Oshiomhole wrote to INEC.
With the latest development, it may not yet be Uhuru for proponents of Direct Primary which favours Bola Tinubu-backed Oshiomhole Oshiomole camp INEC, in all righteousness, is expected to listen to the voice of reason in the matter, The DEFENDER ex-rays.
