‘Obaseki Welcome In PDP, But…’

Ahead of the June 20 governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, the zonal vice-chairman, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, has assured all the aspirants of the party of a level-playing field.

Ogidi, who spoke on Tuesday in Benin at the PDP secretariat shortly after a meeting with the Dr Tony Aziegbemi-led state Executive Committee (EXCO), dismissed insinuations that the party had an anointed aspirant in the person of state governor, Godwin Obaseki, for the September election.

He debunked the rumour presently making the rounds that Governor Obaseki planned to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the PDP and run on the ticket of the main opposition party, following his disagreement with the APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The zonal vice-chairman, who was optimistic that the PDP would win the forthcoming election, however said that the doors of the party remained opened to anybody willing to join the PDP, so long as the defectors are prepared to abide by the constitution of the party.

He said: “If Governor Obaseki comes, we will take him. We can’t drive anybody from entering. Our doors are wide opened. I am not, however, aware that he has started negotiations with us with a view to defecting. If the governor has seen the light and wants to come to the PDP, he is welcome.

“We have a procedure. There is going to be primary. The PDP does not award. If you win the primary, you become the candidate. We have started selling forms. The sale of forms ends on Friday. After that, we screen. After then, we go for primary and whoever wins is the candidate.”

In predicting victory for the PDP in September, Aziegbemi however harped on unity as the reality on the ground favoureds a change as a result of the internal wrangling and perceived lacklustre performance of the APC in the last 11 years in the state.