Tobias Sylvester
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki formally joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after his recent resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obaseki who disclosed this on his Twitter page on Friday evening, June 19, 2020, swid his reaseon for the defection is advance his ambition to seek re-election as Governor of Edo.
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
The governor visited the PDP secretariat in Benin and was received by the leadership of the party led by the state Chairman, Hon Tony Aziegbemi.
He arrived the state Secretariat of the PDP along 1st East Circular Road with many of his followers and appointees.
Below are videos of Obaseki declaring for PDP, tweeted by PDP and the party’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan:
Breaking News! The governor of Edo State, H. E. @GovernorObaseki has defected to our great Party, the @OfficialPDPNig. The declaration was made this afternoon at the state Secretariat of our party in Benin city, Edo State. Power to the people. #EdoIsPDP. @officialKolaO pic.twitter.com/GV36MSYrGx
— Official PDP Nigeria (@OfficialPDPNig) June 19, 2020
It is Official:@GovernorObaseki is PDP!! pic.twitter.com/NwdTqlMDKh
— Kola Ologbondiyan (@officialKolaO) June 19, 2020
#ForwardEverBackwardNever @OfficialPDPNig pic.twitter.com/Q5Pw2he7mz
— Godwin Obaseki (GGO) (@GovernorObaseki) June 19, 2020
KanyiDaily had reported that Governor Obaseki announced his resignation from the APC after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, June 16, 2020.
His resignation comes days after the APC screening committee disqualified him from contesting in the party’s gubernatorial primaries scheduled to hold on June 22.
Obaseki’s disqualification was due to the committee’s judgement that the governor’s school leaving certificate and NYSC certificate are defective.
But is widely believed that the decision to disqualify the sitting governor was influenced by Adams Oshiomhole, the APC’s national chairman who is Obaseki’s political ally turned adversary.
The embattled governor had met with high-ranking personalities of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the past few days, and is believed to be headed to the main opposition party ahead of the September 19 governorship election.
