By Ndubuisi Orji

Last Monday, 713 delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State gathered at the Samuel Ogbemudiua Stadium to select the party’s candidate for the September 10 governorship election in the state.
The party members who started gathering at venue from 11 am for the day’s business had very high expectation from the exercise.  And that hope was that whoever emerged winner of the primaries would be somebody who would be able to regain the state for the party.
Four chieftains of the party had indicated interest in the ticket. They were former secretary to the state government, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, former majority leader of the state House of Assembly, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwn, 2012 gubernatorial candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP), Chief Solomon Edebiri and former Director General of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Osaro Onaiwu. However, Onaiwu did not obtain the nomination and expression of interest form for the primaries, thereby excluding himself from the process.  At the commencement of the day’s business at about 1pm, the state chairman after welcoming the delegates and party bigwigs who turned out for the exercise, invited the three aspirants to the podium to address the delegates.
That invitation afforded the governorship hopeful a last minute opportunity to sell their candidature to the delegates.  Edebiri was the first to speak.  He told the delegates  not to forget where they were coming from, noting that what the party needed was a candidate who would give the state a new lease of life. The Uhunmwonde-born politician, who said he was the best man for the job promised to create a new Edo State.
“In The new Edo State that I intend to create if you grant me the opportunity to do so,  we will create new industries, revamp moribund ones. We will ensure that all those things that give life are provided,” he promised. Edebiri urged the delegates to be true to the conscience as they vote.
Thereafter, Iduoriyekemwen took the microphone. For starters, he admitted that the three of them were eminently qualified to lead the state, noting that anyone of them is better than any candidate other political parties may field for the governorship election.
However, the former legislator while appealing to the delegates to field him as the gubernatorial candidate said: “we need a man that can make victory easier for the party. I will contribute more votes”. He said he is aware that the party has not taken decision on any candidate.
On his part, Ize-Iyamu urged the delegates to nominate him as the party’s candidate, stating that he had what it took to win the state for the party. “If you nominate me, PDP will win and there is nothing they can do about it.”
After the speeches, the chairman of the Election Committee, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State took over proceedings for the day. While addressing the delegates, he prayed to God to help the delegates to choose the best man.
The voting proper started by 1.42pm and ended by 2.57pm. Before the collation and counting of the results started, Umahi invited the three aspirants to give their impression about the conduct of the election. One after the other, the aspirants agreed the voting process was very peaceful and orderly.
From the collation of the result, it was evident where the pendulum was swinging to. As soon as it was clear that Ize-Iyamu has secured majority of the votes, his supporters went into frenzy. One of them bearing a bell shouted “Osagie, Osagie, Ize-Iyamu, you don be governor. My life don better. I no go suffer again.” Shortly before the former declaration of the results, Iduoriyekemwen left the stadium. Edebiri followed minutes later after conversing with Ize-Iyamu for some minutes.   Umahi while announcing the result said that  whereas there were a total of 731 delegates, 28 failed to show up for accreditation. He said Ize-Iyamu scored 584 to emerge the PDP gubernatorial candidate. While Iduoriyekemwen and Edebiri scored 91 and 38 votes respectively.  Accepting his nomination, the PDP candidate said everyone of the contestants is a winner.  He said nobody should be anxious about the early exit if the other aspirants from the venue, noting that they spoke with him before leaving.
“There is no winner. There is no loser.  It is a family affair. The real battle will be in the days and weeks ahead. I want to assure you that we will not fail. Let nobody be worried, “Ize-Iyamu stated.

Presidency wades into APC crisis

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

There was a strong indication yesterday that the Presidency has finally waded into the deepening crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over last Saturday’s primary election in the state.
A source at the headquarters of the ruling party revealed to journalists that in an attempt to check the crisis from deteriorating further, the Presidency has given the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, a 24-hour ultimatum to meet with all the aspirants.
The Edo APC governorship primaries which held on June 18 and was won by Mr. Godwin Obaseki has been a subject of controversy resulting in two of the aspirants that participated in the exercise petitioning the national leadership of the party.
Two of the aspirants, Christopher Ogiemwonyi and Kenneth Imansuagbon, who scored 247 and 137 votes respectively who challenged the result of the primaries alleged electronic rigging of the election before the Appeal Primaries Committee headed by Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele.
Another source close to the Appeal Primaries Committee also revealed that the two aspirants alleging rigging of the primaries have incontrovertible evidence, adding that the Committee members are under pressure on what to recommend to the National Working Committee members.
The source further stated that while the NWC members are expecting the Committee not to recommend outright cancellation of the primaries, the two aggrieved aspirants are threatening the party with litigation should the Appeal Committee uphold the result.
According to the source; “The two aggrieved aspirants are waiting for the recommendation of the Committee, threatening to go to court and work against the party in the event of any last minutes endorsement.”
The source also explained that the Committee invited the governor of Katsina State and Chairman of the Primaries Committee, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, but was represented by a Director at the National Secretariat of the party.
When contacted, the chairman of the Appeal Committee, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele stated that the committee was compiling its recommendations, adding that all the stakeholders invited met with the Committee members and made oral presentations of the primaries.
On the aspirants meeting with the SGF, Bamidele stated that he was not privy to the arrangements, disclosing that the committee will submit its report to the national leadership of the party on Thursday.

…Primary election was neither  free nor fair – Imansuagbon

One of the aspirants in last Saturday’s primaries of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Mr. Kenneth Imansuagbon, ‎has faulted the exercise, insisting that it must be cancelled if the party (APC) is truly committed to winning the general election.
The prominent politician who used to be in the PDP and contested the party’s 2012 primaries in the state‎ alleged that the recent APC exercise in Edo was scientifically manipulated in favour of Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
Imansuagbon, who said he was already on his way to formally lodge his complain about the conduct of the election.
According to him: “There must be a forensic examination of the ballot papers. That is the only thing I can accept.” Imansuagbon said he was approaching the Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele-led election appeal committee because the election was not free and fair as people are being made to believe
“One should ask why despite the fact that accreditation finished around 2pm, voting was delayed till around 7pm. Under the floodlight, they had allocated the votes to Obaseki.
“We had heard that he was going about saying he was going to win with over 1600 votes, but I considered it a mere rumour – that the margin of victory for anyone who would win should not be more than 20 – 30. Even if Oshiohmole himself ran, he couldn’t have polled that much in an election that has the deputy governor, who also controls the party structure contesting.” “Even during my days in the almighty PDP, where we had just a little above 700 delegates, I polled 210. How can someone say out of over 2800 delegates, I polled just 247? How does that add up?” he asked.
According to him, talks about post-primary reconciliation ‎is an exercise in futility as the only option is for the party to reverse the governorship primary or test the popularity of other aspirants at the general election.
“We are not interested in reconciliation. We are approaching the Hon. Bamidele appeal committee. We are praying them to cancel the election and do a fresh primary. If they don’t do it, what will happen to the APC will be disastrous. If the appeal does not take our plea, then we will take our protest to the court of the people”.

Oshiomhole’s aide warned against anti party activities

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

The lawmaker representing Egor constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr Crosby Eribo, has described as anti-party comments being made against Governor Adams Oshiomhole by some members of the party who lost out in the just concluded governorship primaries of the party.
He said such comments were an insult on the All Progressives Congress (APC). He said the emergence of Godwin Obaseki was the decision of the delegates of the party and urged members to rally round him, saying that abusing the governor must stop as it is not only anti-party but an insult on the APC.
Mr.Eribo stated this yesterday in Benin while  reacting to the allegation by a leader of the party, Mrs Evelyn Igbafe, that the governor had perfected plans to kill her because she refused to support Obaseki. He described the allegation as “very uncomplimentary and unacceptable.
“Of what political relevance is Igbafe to APC that will warrant the governor to kill her.
Igbafe and others should see how Obaseki even congratulated Ize-Iyamu; that shows the kind of person he is, it shows he is focused on how to serve the people and not fighting anybody.
“I have watched her comments and for me, it does not make sense. We even learnt that she called the Esama of Benin who sent camera men to her house and she equally confessed to journalists that she had called the governorship candidate of the PDP, Pastor Ize-Iyamu that Oshiomhole brought people to kill her.
“That is anti-party and if she wants to leave the APC for the PDP, she is free to go; why abuse a governor whom you are working under.
It is the same woman who has moved from PDP to APC, then from APC back to PDP and today she is back to APC, causing trouble. I think enough of these insults on Oshiomhole; is it because the man is always tolerating everyone, how many governors will tolerate such insult and you still remain in his cabinet.
“It is very clear that it was God that brought Obaseki who is not a politician; so why can’t people accept defeat as loyal party members and move towards the general election. “Anyone who is not comfortable with that can quietly leave for the PDP since she has started calling PDP leaders on the issue. The party should deal with people like this so that they will not cause confusion in the APC” Crosby said.‎

We shall meet on field, Ize-Iyamu tells Obaseki

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has congratulated his All People Congress (APC) counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, over his recent nomination as the flag-bearer of his party. In a statement issued yesterday by his campaign organization, Ize-Iyamu said he looks forward to meeting the APC candidate in the field for an issue-based campaign.
The PDP candidate wondered why the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is acting as if he is seeking a third term in office.
“A week after Godwin Obaseki emerged as the candidate of the APC, it is interesting to note however that the outgoing governor, Adams Oshiomhole, still speaks as though he is the candidate running for elections. Is Godwin Obaseki not a grown man? Why can’t he begin to speak for himself or is this a sign of things to come?’’
While advising the electorate to thoroughly scrutinise the candidates soliciting their votes before deciding who to support, Ize-Iyamu said that he is ready to submit himself for any scrutiny from any angle and ever ready to defend all his noble activities in the past.  “We also note with interest, Oshiomhole’s allusion to the EFCC as a tool to harass the PDP flag-bearer, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Is Adams Oshiomhole a staff of the EFCC or is the EFCC an extension of his office? The EFCC will do well to assert their independence as an anti-corruption agency by disowning Oshiomhole’s statements.
“We believe with the recent revelation by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, that the EFCC has more work to do, ” he said.

Afenmai Patriots congratulates candidates
Afenmai Patriotic Development Association (APDA), a Socio-political organization of Afenmai people has congratulated the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on their successes at their parties’ primaries.
This was made available in a statement issued in Benin City by the Coordinator of the group, Dr Kennedy Izuagbe and interim spokes person, Mr Lucky Anyia. The group commended the electoral committees constituted by the National headquarters of the APC headed by Katsina State governor, Aminu Masari and that of the PDP, Gov Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State respectively for a job well done.
It equally praised the fair, peaceful and transparent conduct of the primaries, noting that it was heart-warming as the entire processes were devoid of violence and rancour.
According to the statement: “The manner with which the delegates elected their flag bearers in a free, fair and transparent process, the parties have proven to Nigerians that they are ready to help entrench democracy in Nigeria..” The group advised political parties on the need to know that internal democracy is key to the overall success of  democracy in Nigeria and that there is need to imbibe the conscious practice of upholding the will of the people by allowing a level playing ground as demonstrated at the APC and PDP primaries in Edo.
It noted with joy that both exercises ended on a peaceful note and enjoined the winners to be