The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, took a different dimension as the party’s Secretariat is now at a new location. This relocation was contained in a letter sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the party and a key player in the saga.
This is coming ahead of the forthcoming September 19, 2020 Edo State Governorship Election. The mode of party primary for the June 22, Edo state Governorship, being the issue in dispute, while the state Governor Godwin Obaseki’s group wants the indirect primary, Oshiomhole’s group are insisting on the direct primary mode.
Sources confirmed to Africa Update that the APC Constitution permits three methods – Direct (involving all registered members of the party voting choice candidate), Indirect (involving accredited delegates) and Consensus (adoption of one candidate by the party). What may appear to others as being sentimental, the INEC has reportedly backed Oshiomhole’s decision, stating that it does not deal with state chapters of political parties. A letter addressed to the INEC chairman and signed on 29th May 2020, by Oshiomhole was made available to newsmen on Monday. The letter said the new address of the state party is now 16 Igwiwiyise street, Off Airport Road, Benin City. The letter further disclosed that the Edo State Police Commissioner, the Director of State Security Services (DSS) and State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) have been informed of the relocation .
