After days of uncertainty, it has now been confirmed that Governor Godwin Obaseki will be defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in few days.
But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in the state Mr Tony Aziegbemi, maintained on Monday that there will be no automatic ticket for Mr Obaseki.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee disqualified Obaseki and two others from contesting the party’s primary, scheduled for June 22. Meanwhile the PDP has fixed its governorship primary for June 19th and 20th.
“There is nothing like an automatic ticket for anybody, it is like that in any democratic environment, and there is a process as laid down by the constitution of the party and that we will follow.
“But I can confirm to you that the governor, his deputy and the entire All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in the state will be joining the PDP soon. We have been in touch in the last few days. By tomorrow, I will be able to confirm the exact date he will be joining with his team,” Mr Aziegbemi stated.
“However, I am not yet aware that the governor has obtained our party’s membership card. I can also say that there is no automatic ticket in the offing for him at all,” he added.
Responding to the recent development, a governorship aspirant of the PDP, Mr Ken Imasuagbon, said he would resist any attempt to hand over the party’s ticket to Mr Obaseki ahead of the state governorship elections.
Speaking with newsmen on Monday in Benin, he stated that the governor was welcome to join the party but that he must join the queue.
“Any attempt to manipulate the party’s primary would be met with serious resistance; there will be no PDP primary or whatever if the party’s leadership tries it.
“This is neither a military coup nor are we in military rule, the governor must subject himself to the party’s primary; he will need to queue with the other aspirants if he wishes to join, but certainly not handing him the ticket automatically.
