TELL Magazine

The Edo State Government has reiterated that all political parties in the state must obey the regulations spelt out in its gazette aimed at curtailing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), in the conduct of their primary elections ahead of the September gubernatorial election in the state. The gazette encourages use of indirect primary in the choice of party candidates in the state. Political watchers however believe it was targeted at the National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC which has adopted direct mode of primary for the state which the state governor, Godwin Obaseki is resisting.

The Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, stated this when he received his Bayelsa State counterpart, Lawrence Ehwujakpo, who is in the state to supervise the ward congresses of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP). Shaibu, who commended the PDP for following the guidelines in the gazette, urged all other political parties to follow suit as the regulations would help in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and keep Edo people safe.

“We got a letter from your party, the PDP, requesting to make use of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for its primary election. Governor Godwin Obaseki approved the request because the party obeyed the rules and regulations set by the Edo State Government. I therefore use this opportunity to tell other political parties to obey the gazette in the state, which is now a law. Just as you have obeyed, we are asking and calling on other political parties to obey the law. Any political party that disobeys the law will not hold its primary election in the state as the gazette must be respected.”

He continued: “The life of Edo people is more important than the political ambition of any politician or wishes of political parties. We need to be alive to play politics; we need to live to vote and be voted for in the election. The rules to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the gazette must be strictly followed to keep Edo people safe at this period.”

Shaibu commended the Bayelsa State Government for the unity, progress and development the people are enjoying, noting that the Governor Godwin Obaseki led-state government was also ardently pursuing the development and progress of the state. Development does not have a political party, neither does progress. But parties exist to act as vehicles to actualize the wishes of the people in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We would fight for the development and progress of Edo State. No element or person will stop our progress because Edo people come first in the agenda of this administration. We will stand against anything that will stop progress and development in the state,” he added.

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Ehwujakpo commended the developmental strides of the Obaseki-led administration, assuring of his state’s continued support for the progress in Edo State. “We associate ourselves with progress and development. Your administration is fighting to ensure that the development of the state continues, which is commendable” he added.