By Akinwale Kasali
Weeks to the Edo State All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship primaries, there seems to be alignment and re-alignment within the fold of the ruling party, as aspirants jostling for the APC ticket are strategizing on clinching the coveted tickets, with no one leaving no stone unturned.
Incumbent Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki, is rallying round support to emerge the candidate of the ruling APC, to return for another term. But he faces a stiff opposition from the National Chairman of the APC, former Edo State Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole who is bent on removing the incumbent Governor and installing his own candidate.
Following this development, Obaseki has sought audience with the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to achieve his second term ambition, and also demystify the powers of Oshiomhole.
The APC primaries in Edo is scheduled to hold next month, and all the aspirants have been doing underground works to emerge victorious.
The announcement by the National Working Committee of the party on the adoption of direct primaries and waiver for a new entrant into the party and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last election in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, coming into the fray, political observers said, sent fears into the spines of Obaseki.
His is also worried over the support Ize-Iyamu is getting from Oshiomhole. With Obaseki and Oshiomhole not ready to sheath thier swords in the battle of supremacy, the battle for the soul of Edo State is more intense.
The unresolved issues between Obaseki and Oshiomhole was a major issue why the APC did not the unanimously agree to the sole candidacy of Obaseki
Oshiomhole has not hidden his interest in the candidacy of Ize-Iyamu for the governorship poll.
Obaseki is however set to meet Tinubu at his Ikoyi home in Lagos soonest, with no date fixed for the meeting.
But certainly, both parties will meet secretly before the 2020 APC primaries next month.
