The All Progressives Congress (APC) has refused to get a permit from Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to organize the party primary election which is scheduled to hold on Monday, June 22, 2020.
The governor insisted that direct primary will not hold in the state except the party got a permit from the state government.
Governor Obaseki had earlier released a press statement stating that all political parties in Edo State must apply for permits before organizing any political gathering in the state.
The governor said the decision is to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.
APC said it doesn’t require a permit from the governor before they can choose their candidate who will represent them in the state gubernatorial election which will be held in September.
They also said its only Federal Government that can stop public gatherings in the state and not the governor.
They opined that the governor’s decision is politically motivated.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had confirmed that 14 out of 15 political parties that registered for the election have settled for indirect primaries, only APC insisted on direct primary.
The media aide to Obaseki said that the governor’s ban on public gatherings is still in force and will be implemented tomorrow.
It was gathered that two other aspirants in APC had written to step down, leaving only Pastor Ize Iyamu as the unopposed candidate for APC.
However, Pastor Ize Iyamu still need affirmation from party members to confirm his candidacy for the election.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had deployed thousands of policemen from Delta and Bayelsa States to Edo State in order to ensure free and fair primaries in the state.
The Edo State Commissioner for Police, Johnson Kokumo, disclosed this on Saturday.
The APC primary election will hold on Monday while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had postponed its primary to yet unknown date.
Following long time beef between Governor Obaseki and the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, the governor was disqualified to participate in the primary election which is scheduled to hold tomorrow.