PATRICK OCHOGA writes on the political intrigues, strategy adopted by the Godwin Obaseki led All Progressive Congress, APC that saw the party sweeping the entire 24 seats contested into the Edo state house of Assembly.
Last week, Edo state Chapter of the All Progressive Congress, APC brazed up from the ashes of the dismal outing in the February 23rd, 2109, Presidential and National assembly elections where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won in 2 out of the 3 senatorial seats and 4 House of Representatives seats.
The APC on the other hand clinched one senatorial seat and 5 House of Representatives seats. The unprecedented performance of the party in the just concluded State house of assembly elections may have finally put a nail to the political coffin of the PDP in state.
Prior, to last week victory of the APC in the state assembly elections, indications are that the APC may have lost it winning streak under Obaseki owing to the outcome of the presidential election. Even more shocking was the defeat in Edo South senatorial districts where the governor hails from.
However, the party was able to deliver well over 25% required for the president which was an improvement compared to the figure Edo gave Buhari in 2015.
The shocking loss of the APC especially in Edo South and Central senatorial districts in the presidential /National assembly elections may not be unconnected with the massive campaign by certain religious leaders in churches an obvious to bid to de-market and portray Buhari as an ethno-religious bigot had a negative impact on the outcome of the results.
Beside internal sabotage by some aggrieved party leaders to embarrass the governor in Edo South senatorial districts his political enemies were quick heap the loss in the presidential election on the governor to portray him as politicaly weak especially by those engaged in subterranean plans to wrestle power from him in the 2020 governorship election in the state.
His political traducers had a field day as they tongued lashed the technocrat turned politician. Obaseki’ no doubt, was furious over the outcome of the party especially considering the amount of support and logistics deployed.
Changing The Tides
Obaseki immediately summoned his political strategists, the secretary to the state government, Hon Osarodion Ogie, Edo state Chief of Staff, Hon Taiwo Akerele, and former Special Adviser to Adams Oshiomhole on Political matters, Hon Charles Idahosa, with a bid to re-enacted it political supremacy and avoid the pitfall of the presidential elections.
They identified some loopholes in the election and moved to action.
Obaseki meeting also analysed the political situation prior to the state assembly elections. At the meeting he was said to have read a riot act to party leaders and charged them to deliver all APC candidates in their constituency or be sanctioned.
In apparent shock Obaseki was said to have expressed shock that if it were in his election this was how he would have lost out to the PDP. The meeting was said to have offered an opportunity for the governor to explain to party stakeholders from wards, local government and state leaders his supports to the party prior to the election.
After Obaseki’s explanation, the angry youths were said to have held some of their leaders to hostage for betraying them for the PDP. They openly threatened to manhandle the them. It was however gathered that the governor’s intervention pacified youths. They were however ordered to return to the party all logistics provided to them.
It was gathered that a leader of the party who attended the strategic meeting was quoted to have told Obaseki that “we don’t really have an issues with you because your work speak well for you. Our people voted the way they did since it wasn’t governorship election. When it comes to your election we are ready to re-elect you for second term”
Path To Victory
Few days to the state house of assembly elections, Obaseki had called on the people of the state to come out enmass to vote candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) vying for seats in the March 9th State Assembly election.
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He harped on the need for the people of the state to vote APC candidates to sustain the progressive developmental policies of his administration. The message to vote APC resonated with the people which saw the party winning the 24 assembly seats contested mainly between the APC and PDP.
He added that an APC-controlled House of Assembly will ensure that touts and hooligans do not return to lay siege to markets and motor parks for revenue collection.
He explained that the reforms which have transformed revenue collection in the state, were made possible with the full support of members of the outgoing assembly, adding, “as a result of these reforms, traders in markets and transport operators across the state are no longer subjected to harassment by revenue collectors who in the past hassled traders and commercial transport operators, and in some instances, confiscated their goods.”
“By sustaining these reforms, Edo State will continue to take the lead in the ease of doing business in South-south Nigeria, as more investors are being attracted to the state, a development that has created more job opportunities and decent means of livelihoods for Edo people,” he said.
Underscoring the impact of healthy relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government, Obaseki stressed the need to sustain the level of cooperation between both arms of government, by voting for all APC candidates across the 24 state constituencies.
The governor said that his administration has sustained interventions in the health, educational, agricultural as well as several other sectors of the state, through sound reform programmes.
“I need the support of the House of Assembly to ensure that we do more to boost investor confidence and create more wealth for our people.
“With the transparent system we have created for revenue generation, we are ensuring that tax payers benefit from government programmes and policies, such as road construction and reconstruction, remodelling of Primary Health Care Centres and schools across the state. We need a House of Assembly that will not pull us back by projecting their own interests,” Obaseki said.
Breaking The Jinx
Obaseki , led APC in state broke the political jinx that has held Edo Central senatorial districts, a prior to last week APC victory, the district was a stronghold of the PDP.
Edo Central which had been under the political grip of late Chief Tony Anenih parades PDP heavy weight such as former Minister of Works, Mike Onolemenmen, Senator, Odion Ugbesia, Senator Clifford Ordia, Hon Sergius Ogun and Hon Joseph Edionwele, came crashing to the APC as Obaseki political foot soldiers led the onslaught against the PDP. APC won all the seats.
As the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, condemned the results of the state assembly elections in the state, APC leader in Ugbegun ward and board member Ambrose Alli Universty Ekpoma, Comrade Mathew Emiohe said was a show that the people in Esan Central appreciate the development and work of the governor.
“We decided to vote one way for Obaseki because he is performing in term of projects. He is touching the entire Esan land. What you are seeing is that the people are at home with him. Edo people have spoken that they appreciate his people-focused policies and programmes”.
“We will sustain this victory for the governor in 2020 because he has showed and demonstrate that the people matters. We are happy with him. I can assure you that more PDP member will join us in Edo Central.
Meanwhile Governor Godwin Obaseki, has attributed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the March 9 State Assembly election, to the collective effort of his party, the APC and people’s power.
He said, “This is all about gratitude to God and all of you and the millions of our supporters, for accepting the challenge to deliver the party.”
“Edo will continue to align with the federal government to attract positive development to the state as the only APC-controlled state in the South-South and South-East of Nigeria. The APC and my administration will continue to run an all-inclusive government.”
For Governor Obaseki, the victory of the APC at the polls translates to more responsibilities for the political party to live up to the confidence reposed in it by the electorate.
Similarly, the state chairman of the party, Anselm Ojezua, said the victory of the party at the House of Assembly poll showed the massive support citizens of the state have for the Obaseki-led administration.
“The result of last Saturday speaks volumes for what Edo citizens think about the APC and the governor of the state. It also speaks volume of the leadership of the political party.
He debunked allegations that there was rift between Governor Obaseki and the leadership of the APC, adding that “there is nothing the governor has done that the party is not in support or part of.”
