…As APC govs meet to save Edo gov

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday, hosted his embattled Edo State counterpart, Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.

An official statement did not state Obaseki’s mission but it may not be unconnected to his recent disqualification from running for party primaries for a second term by his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reports say he has been consulting with the hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in preparation for a defection.

Wike is a leading member of the PDP and was instrumental to the election of the current PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. Secondus is also a native of Rivers State.

Meanwhile, the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have met and agreed to intervene in the current crisis rocking the party in Edo and Ondo states ahead of the governorship elections in the state.

A statement on Sunday in Abuja by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, said the governors have “Collectively agreed to work to ensure strengthening fair and democratic internal party mechanism for the selection of party candidates in all elections, especially in respect of Edo and Ondo states 2020 governorship elections.”

But the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC on Saturday affirmed the disqualification of Godwin Obaseki and two others who had earlier been disqualified by the screening panel.

The three aspirants disqualified were Obaseki, Chris Ogiemwonyi and Mr Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen.

By the APC governors in the statement said they are confident that the party will resolve all current challenges and emerge stronger.

The APC governors forum which had a Teleconference meeting on Saturday resolved that “Unanimously reaffirmed the commitment of all Progressive Governors to work for the unity of our party.

“Forum members are confident that the party will resolve all current challenges and emerge stronger emerge stronger.”

Aside the statement issued after the meeting, a source closed to one of the governors who attended the meeting said most of the APC governors were not happy about some of the decisions taken so far by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC.