The ongoing arrangement by members of the renounced Edo People’s Movement, EPM to weed the numbers of those angling to contest the June 2020 governorship primaries, may have caused division within their rank.
Investigation by Midwest Herald points to a ‘troubling arrangement’ because of mutual disrespect and suspicion. One of the aspirants who spoke to our correspondent in Abuja, explained that the process “lacks seriousness and transparency.”
He quipped: “I wonder how they expect us (aspirants) to sit together as if we are in a village meeting and start asking ourselves who would step down.
“This process is very alien to political negotiation. Presently, no leader is driving the process and as a result, we are all pushing on.
“I believe the plan by one of us is to force others to accept him as the preferred standard bearer, but some of us have agreed to reject that plan and go on with our individual aspirations.”
Also, another aspirant who was also on the party’s ballot in 2016, revealed that the All Progressives Congress, APC national chairman is trying to foist a particular aspirant on them, “with the help of Senator Bola Tinubu.”
The skilful politician vowed to reject any move to hoodwink him out of the race, while promising to frustrate unfair interference in the process.
“It’s true the process to get a consensus aspirant from our side is ongoing but like in 2016, I can tell you for free that I will ignore any attempt to step me down. I am best qualified to lead the battle in our quest to wrestle the ticket from the incumbent.”
It will be recalled that all four serious aspirants, under the aegis of ‘Coalition of Edo APC Governorship Aspirants’, appealed for a level playing field in the party primary election ahead of the 2020 governorship election on January 16, 2020.
Those seriously in the race are Mr. Pius Odubu, Gen Charles Airhiavbere, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and Pastor Osagie Ize- Iyamu as well as Mr. Solomon Edebiri.