The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has told political parties planning to hold their governorship primary elections that restriction on gatherings of over 20 persons is still in place in the state, warning any political party planning to hold a gathering of over 20 persons to first secure permission from the state government. The Punch has reported.
According to the Punch, The governor said this on his official Twitter handle on Saturday while giving update on Covid-19 situation in the state, noting that the restriction is part of his government efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The governor has recently been disqualified by his party APC from contesting in the forthcoming primary election under the platform of the party, raising suspicion it might not be easy for the same party to get approval from the governor for its primary slated for June 22.
Although the governor has the constitutional right to pursue his political ambition under the platform of another party, but he has not yet publicly declared his next line of action.
While the APC adopted the direct primary, other political parties, including PDP opted for primaries using the indirect method. No matter how we look at it, there is none of the two modes of primaries that does not require more than the gathering of 20 people. This is why it should be of serious concern for all political parties.
Obaseki said that for all upcoming elections, he has issued a gazette that provides guidance on how political parties can conduct their activities, to reduce the spread of the virus in the gathering. In his word: “In view of the upcoming elections and to reduce infection transmission rates during political gatherings, I have issued a gazette that provides guidance on how political parties can conduct their activities, he said.
It is not unexpected that Godwin Obaseki will have a card up his sleeve, but no one knows what it is. It now remains to be seen how events unfold in the coming weeks.
