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Jubilation in Edo over Obaseki’s quit as Court shifts suit on Edo APC primary to Thursday

….Obaseki blocked at Aso Villa, denied access to President Buhari ….
Frustrated Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has bid farewell to the ruling All Progressives Party (APC), after unsuccessful attempts to see President Muhammadu Buhari – he was denied access, AbujaGuardian learned from reliable sources.
The Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, who met with the embattled Governor expressed the Presidency’s lack of options in the face of indicting pieces of evidence in Obaseki’s certificate scandal and political travails centered on his diminished popularity amongst members in the state and consistent engagement in anti-party activities.
The announcement of Obaseki’s exit from the APC sparked celebration in Edo State from a multitude of residents who considered it further proof of the governor’s looming defeat at the polls in September. According to some of them who spoke with AbujaGuardian, Godwin Obaseki’s exit will unify the APC in the state ahead of an important election.
Meanwhile, in another related development, Governor Obaseki’s hope of procuring a court order to stop the direct primaries of his former party, APC, suffered yet another setback as the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City adjourned further hearing in the suit filed by the cronies of the Governor.
Obaseki and his cronies, who are against the direct mode adopted for the June 22 primaries by the All Progressives Congress(APC), pled with the court to block the event but the case has now been adjourned to Thursday by the Presiding Judge, Justice Morenike Ogunwomiju. The other Judges on the case are Justices Sam Oseji and Moore Adumein.
The suit with reference number: CA/B/128/2020, has as appellants, the APC and its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, a former Governor of Edo state.
The respondents are the factional Edo Deputy Chairman of APC, Kenneth Asekomhe; and one of the governorship aspirants on the party’s platform, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, who were expelled from APC by the NWC over alleged anti-party activities last week as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
Obaseki had earlier indicated a growing lack of interest in the case after it became obvious that the court is unwilling to bow to his intimidation tactics and the unnecessary deployment of security officials and thugs during hearings.
It is unclear what his next move will be following his recent exit from the party and assumed ineligibility to contest or direct the conduct of the primary election of a political party he is neither a member of or going to participate in.

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