Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has finally joined the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a few days after defecting from the All progressives Congress, APC.
The PDP made the disclosure via its twitter handle on Friday, adding that Mr Obseki joined the party through its State Secretariat in Benin, the state capital.
The governor also posted on his verified Facebook page, saying he would compete for governorship on the opposition party platform.
”I have officially joined the Official Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nigeria to advance my ambition to seek re-election as Governor of Edo State.
“I, as always, remain committed to engendering good governance and sustainable development of our dear state,” he said.
I have officially joined the @OfficialPDPNig to advance my ambition to seek re-election as Governor of Edo State.
I, as always, remain committed to engendering good governance and sustainable development of our dear state.
— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) June 19, 2020
Recall that the Prof. Jonathan Ayuba-led screening committee had disqualified the governor from contesting in the July 22 party primary in the state.
While presenting its report to the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee in Abuja on Friday, the chairman of the panel, explained that the committee could not vouch for the authenticity of the Higher School Certificate Mr Obaseki claimed to have obtained but refused to produce.
According to the committee, the document Mr Obaseki produced only attested to his attendance.
Reacting on Friday, Mr Obaseki said he would not be appealing the outcome of the panel, describing his disqualification as ‘a mockery of the democratic process’.
Much later, the governor announced his defection from the party, promising to announce his next move before the July 22 primaries.
Emerging out of a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, on Monday, the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, said the party was not jittery over plans by the Edo governor to decamp to PDP.
In a veiled reference to Mr Obaseki’s disqualification and defection plans, Mr Oshiomhiole added that no evidence suggests that a sitting governor must win an election.
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