Former Governor of Edo State and leader of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has denied allegations that his party orchestrated the crisis surrounding the invalidation of the People’s Democratic Party governorship primary in Edo State.
Speaking to journalists at the State House in Abuja on Friday, Oshiomhole described the situation as an internal conflict within the PDP, emphasizing that parties must obey the laws regulating primary conduct.
He stated that the APC is gaining strength in Edo State, with many PDP members defecting to the APC.
Oshiomhole attributed the PDP’s issues to internal divisions and disagreements, which he said were evident before and after their primaries, according to Politics Nigeria.
Recall that a Federal High Court recently ruled that the PDP’s primary election is invalid due to the disenfranchisement of authentic party delegates.
Oshiomhole dismissed claims of APC involvement, emphasizing that the issue is an intra-party matter for the PDP to resolve.
He said, This is purely PDP intra-party, and I think the lesson is very clear, namely that parties must be encouraged to obey the laws that regulate the conduct of primaries.”
He continued, “I think you should dismiss that because this is PDP versus PDP and you know that by the law, another party cannot go into intra-party conflicts in court. So if it is convenient for them to explain that you can dismiss it without asking me.
“The fact that there had been division in Edo before their primaries and after their primaries is an open secret, and the issues in dispute are also very open. The PDP legacy group complained that the man they gave their master bedroom has completely chased them out of the building and now they’re under the rain and as we speak they are still trying to settle.
“Those who couldn’t find accommodation, we picked them one by one and don’t forget that those in that Osadebe Avenue were my creation in the sense that I supported Obeseki to become governor and so I have people who still have affection for me.
“Edo people won’t forget in the hurry what I did when I was governor and those of them who didn’t quite readily appreciate now compared the past with the present. So if they have disputes or disagreement which they couldnt settle and they choose to settle it in the court and the court nullify the process.”