Edo 2020: Obaseki not restrained from contesting for PDP’s ticket – Justice Obile

“The Party’s NWC has broad powers to grant waivers in the general common interest of the party as it did with Governor Obaseki and even its press statement yesterday showed it favoured no particular Aspirant.”

Justice E. A Obile of a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has denied restraining Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki from participating in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Gubernatorial Primaries in Edo State.

Obaseki was granted waiver by the PDP recently after he joined the opposition party from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Based on an earlier Information obtained with a purported order, The DEFENDER had published the restriction of the governor, although in quest to generate reaction, some sources within the PDP cued for calm saying they had confidence that Governor Obaseki will participate in the primaries.

In an afternoon report by an online media Tuesday, Justice Obile said it was a lie as there was no such order from the court restraining the Edo governor from seeking the PDP ticket.

The judge reportedly confirmed that the court did not grant any order restraining Obaseki.

However, the report said, mischief makers purportedly fuelled by one of the PDP gubernatorial aspirants took to the media to report what did not happen.

Also, rumours that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was behind it has also been denied.

Responding to the purported court order, the Head of Peoples Democratic Party New Media, Anthony Ehilebo Esq, said:

“Whenever one is presented with any court document it is very important to pause and take time read thoroughly and decipher the intent of the presented court document.

“When I saw the court order being flashed around and the hatchet media job I am informed is being pushed a compromised Editor at ThisDay, my sense as media and communications expert went into overdrive.. The way they waited till late at night to release the deluge of planted media stories..

“Yes the court in documents below listed their prayers..but if you read again it listed the orders it granted..which nowhere in the 4 listed granted prayers did it grants any order restraining Governor Obaseki from contesting the PDP primaries..

“It is shameful that certain erstwhile leaders of the PDP in Edo want to throw the proverbial “Sand Sand” in Edo PDPs garri..But No man is God..

“The Party’s NWC has broad powers to grant waivers in the general common interest of the party as it did with Governor Obaseki and even in its press statement yesterday showed it favoured no particular Aspirant..

“I urge all our Aspirants to respect this position and go to the field on Thursday to test their popularity if any..without the rancours of litigation..

“They must remain informed that litigation with the party without exhausting internal mechanisms has consequences..

“I thank our leaders for everything they have done to sustain the party through very tough times..Edo PDP is on the rise and may it soar to a place of greater glory.”