REACTIONS were mixed on Tuesday over Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki’s resignation from the All Progressives Congress While the 18 Local Government Chairmen in the state welcomed the development, the Chairman of his camp in the state APC, Anselm Ojezua, said he would not move with the governor to another party.
The council chairmen, under the aegis of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), reaffirmed their support for the re-election bid of Obaseki.
Chairman of the Obaseki group Anselm Ojezua said he would remain in office till 2022 as chairman of APC despite beuing expelled last week for anti-party activities by the National Working Committee (NWC).
”I still have my mandate as the elected Chairman of APC in Edo State. I intend to complete the mandate.”
However, the anti-Obaseki Edo APC Chairman, Col. David Imuse (rtd.), described the governor’s resignation as good riddance to bad rubbish.
Imuse said: “Obaseki’s resignation of his membership of APC is a highly welcome development. It is expected. His resignation will in no way affect Edo State APC.
“We are preparing for our party’s June 22 governorship primary election through direct mode, to elect the standard bearer of APC for the September 19 poll.”
A former Deputy Governor, Rev. Peter Obadan, said he was sure that Obaseki would hand over power to another governor on November 12,
Obadan, who served as deputy to Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, added that APC was better off without the governor.
The Rivers State APC chapter, said it would not be distracted by the comments of Governor, Nyesom Wike, on the disqualification of Obaseki .
The party, in a statement by its Caretaker Chairman, Igo Aguma, told Wike that Oshiomhole, would lead the party to victory in Edo State.
However, the resignation of Obaseki as APC member , did not stop hearing in the suit initiated by two of his allies at the Court of Appeal, Benin on the mode of June 22 governorship primary in the state.
The presiding judge, Justice Morenike Ogunwomiju, who was accompanied by Justices Sam Oseji and Moore Adumein, adjourned till tomorrow, further hearing in the suit.
The members of National Working Committee (NWC) of APC, had on May 21, declared that the governorship primary election in the state would be by direct mode, while Obaseki’s allies are still pushing for indirect mode.