Obaseki to reveal next move after meeting with Buhari

Following his disqualification from the All Progressives Congress primary election, embattled Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki says he will disclose his next move after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari.

Describing his disqualification as an act of injustice, the governor said he will also consult his supporters to determine the next step to take ahead of the gubernatorial election in his state in September.

Obaseki said this via his Twitter handle on Sunday, June 14, 2020. He tweeted, 

“I appreciate the sustained show of solidarity, support and goodwill from Edo people and Nigerians in the face of injustice by the @OfficialAPCNg screening committee,” he wrote.

University of Ibadan confirms Obaseki's certificate

The University of Ibadan has confirmed that Godwin Obaseki is a graduate of the Institution and has a legitimate certificate issued by the same.

Very recently, a faction of All Progressives' Congress (APC) which is Obaseki's political party, started peddling rumors concerning the authenticity of his first degree certificate which he presented before he was elected.

The party's National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, said that the APC's screening committee should investigate the scandal, casting doubts on the governor's credentials.

However, the Registrar of the University of Ibadan, Olubunmi Faluyi, said that Obaseki gained admission into the institution in 1976 to study Classics, and graduated in 1979 with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division. She disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

"Records of his Admission and Graduation are intact in the archives of the University," she said.

In his reaction to the statement on his Twitter account, Obaseki said, "Posterity will always vindicate the just."

Obaseki was first elected governor in 2016 with the full backing of Oshiomhole, his predecessor.

The two have since had a very public falling out, with Oshiomhole known to be using his influence as party chairman to try and replace Obaseki who's contesting for a second term.

Obaseki presents nomination form to Buhari

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has presented his nomination form for re-election under the All Progressives Congress to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Obaseki made the presentation during a visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, ahead of the APC governorship primary election scheduled for this month.

The governor, who addressed State House Correspondents on the purpose of the visit, said, 

“Even though Buhari is a father, it would be wrong to assume or take things for granted, so I have to formally inform (him).”

The governor also said over 300,000 Edo indigenes had been screened for COVID-19 out of the 500,000 targeted by the government.

He also vowed to ensure that the killers of the 100-level student of the University of Benin, Uwaila Omozuwa, were tracked and brought to justice, describing the crime as heinous.

Obaseki confident about second term if September elections is not rigged

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, says winning a second term at the polls is not a challenge for him if the process is not manipulated.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced last week that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will not affect the election already scheduled for September 19, 2020.

While speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday, May 27, Obaseki said his first term performance will easily earn him another four years in the Edo Government House.

"I'm not bothered. The evidence is out there. As the governor of Edo State in the last three years, we know we've done well. People say we've done well. Therefore, any contest will be no contest, if it's not manipulated. My party is a lawful party, I hope and pray that things are done properly and in line with the party constitution," he said.