TheCable

The national working committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has upheld the disqualification of Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, from the party’s governorship primary election.

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the party, announced this on Saturday after the NWC meeting upon receiving the report of the screening appeal committee on the primary election.

He said the APC NWC has reflected on the allegations against Obaseki which he described as the “height of the abuse of power”.

“The governor had managed the state and disabled the legislative wing by inaugurating the house with nine members out of a house of 24,” Oshiomhole said at a press briefing in Abuja.

“It is unacceptable in a democracy that the executive manipulate and completely disable the legislative arm. The committee had noted and I will like to amplify it, that even the president had intervened on this matter.

“The governor asked the speaker which he had picked to declare the seats of 14 APC members vacant and invited INEC to conduct fresh election.

“These, in the views of the committee, and upon reflection by the NWC, we accept in totality that this is the height of the abuse of power.

“When a governor decides to mussle the legislature, then democracy is dead.

“These we viewed seriously, and therefore, in addition to other contradictions that bother on forged documents, NWC accepts the recommendation that Governor Godwin Obaseki will be ineligible to participate in the forthcoming primaries in Edo state.”

The APC screening committee, which disqualified Obaseki over a “defective” certificate, earlier presented its report to the appeal committee.

Abubakar Fari, who led the appeal panel, questioned the authenticity of Obaseki’s University of Ibadan degree certificate

“We also find it difficult to vouch for the authenticity of his National Youth Service Corps certificate, there is no indication as to where he served,” he also said.