Nigerians may shock political class, parties in 2023, Obaseki warns

INEC’s list recognises Orbih’s faction against governor

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has called on political leaders across the country to step up and mitigate the pains of Nigerians caused by poor governance and inefficiency or expect a surprise from the electorate in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

Obaseki, while speaking to journalists in Benin City, noted that Nigerians were fed up with the inefficiencies and failure of government officials and other representatives and would reject them at the polls if nothing was done to change the narrative.

He said Nigerians were closely watching the political situation in the country and were ready to shock political parties with their new political orientation.

He said: “I am sure we are all watching the development in the country very closely, particularly the evolving political development. It’s clear now that Nigerians are getting fed up with the government and those that represent them in government. We can see that in their reactions on social media and where their actions and emotions are headed.

“For us as a government and representatives of our people, we would be hurting ourselves if we ignore the changes that are coming and believe that things are still the same. We will all be shocked as we are beginning to see.

“People are now beginning to realise that they need to demand more from people in government and those managing their resources and commonwealth; people will go out to vote their choice or interests.”

He added: “No political party today can beat its chest and say they will win or have a clear victory in the next election in the country.

“We are lucky in Edo State because we saw it coming and have laid down the roadmap but our challenge is that many people don’t believe it, thinking we have time and things will still happen the way they usually do.”

MEANWHILE, there was anxiety on Tuesday in the state as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) displayed the list of candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party primary after the political impasse that marred the conduct of the exercise and the subsequent emergence of factions.

The list has settled the supremacy battle between Obaseki and Chief Dan Orbih, Vice Chairman, South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the electoral umpire displayed the list from the election conducted by the Orbih faction, thereby officially recognising candidates of the faction at the party primaries.

The PDP held its primaries nationwide in May this year but in Edo State both factions held parallel primaries and consequently produced candidates for different elective positions at both ends.

A visit by our correspondent to INEC headquarters in Benin, yesterday, confirmed that INEC had pasted a comprehensive list on its public notice board and all the PDP candidates in the list are the ones that emerged winners at the primaries conducted by the Orbih faction.