• ‘Why Edo remains Obidient movement’s capital’
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has explained why he could not risk backing his former deputy, Philip Shaibu, to succeed him as the governor of Edo State.
The governor said that the political permutations in the South-South state did not favour Shaibu to take over from him. Obaseki stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s political programme, ‘Politics Today,’ on Monday.
Recall that Shaibu and Obaseki were at crossfire over his (Shaibu) governorship ambition.
The former Deputy Governor was later impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly for allegedly leaking government information.
Speaking on the matter, Obaseki said: “For me, I did not understand where the ambition was coming from, because it was clear that the odds were not in his favour in terms of succeeding me and I made it very clear.”
MEANWHILE, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has struck out two separate suits questioning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as the governorship candidate of the party for the coming Edo State gubernatorial poll.
The court held that those who instituted the suits from the political camp of former Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shuaibu, have no locus standi to do so.
Delivering judgments in the suits, yesterday, Justice Ekwo held that the plaintiffs failed to exhibit sufficient, direct and tangible personal interest that could lead the court to nullify the primary election.
While the first suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/195/2024 was filed by Adizetu Umoru, the second suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/196/2024, was filed by Moses Alabi and Christopher Oboarer.
The plaintiffs had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Acting National Chairman of the party, Umar Damagu, Setonji Koshoedo, PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) and its Acting National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 6th defendants, respectively.
IN another development, the leadership of the Labour Party (LP), yesterday, described Edo State as the support base for the Obidient Movement in the country.
The party said that those who have been following the progress of the party in the last two years know that Edo remains the capital of the Obidient Movement having contributed over 75 per cent of the total votes cast at the last presidential election.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, during the campaign road walk in major cities of Edo for its governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata.
Ifoh said: “Edo State is the capital of the Obidient Movement in Nigeria. It is our support base, and we have the best candidate for the election. It showed clearly during the last general election when the LP won over 75 per cent of the total votes cast in the presidential election.”
