TELL Magazine

Less than 24 hours after he claimed in an interview with TELL that he was not aware that the embattled governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki was seeking to join his party,  the Peoples Democratic Party,  PDP, a governorship aspirant in the party, Kenneth Imasuangbon, has announced that Obaseki would be joining the party with all members of his state executive council in the next few days. Imasuangbon however maintained his stand that the governor must face the primary election.
He vowed to resist any attempt to hand over the party’s ticket to Obaseki ahead of the state governorship elections. Imasuangbon, who spoke with newsmen on Monday in Benin, however, said the governor was welcome to join the party.

According to him, the governor would have to join the queue with other aspirants and face the party’s primaries slated for June 19 and 20.
Imasuangbon warned that “Any attempt to hijack the party’s primaries would be met with serious resistance. In fact, there will be no PDP primaries or whatever if the party’s leadership tries it.
“This is not a military coup nor are we in military rule. The governor must subject himself to the party’s primaries; he will need to queue with the other aspirants if he so wishes to join, but certainly not handing him the ticket automatically.
“Have you heard before that somebody will join a party and within three days he will be given the ticket? Did he buy the party’s nomination form, was he screened?, Imasuangbon queried. 
Speaking in a similar vein, the state chapter of the PDP, Tony Aziegbemi confirmed that Obaseki would be joining the party anytime soon.
According to him, ” I can confirm to you that the governor, his deputy, and the entire All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in the state will be joining the PDP soon.
“We have been in touch in the last few days. By tomorrow, I will be able to confirm the exact date he will be joining with his team.
“But for the governor obtaining our membership card, I am not aware of that yet.”