The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has granted Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, a waiver to contest for elective office on its platform.
The governor who dumped the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday defected to the PDP on Friday and picked up his PDP membership card at the party’s secretariat in Benin City, the state capital.
Addressing party officials, the governor said he automatically becomes the PDP leader in the state following his defection.
Obaseki also reiterated his commitment to providing what he described as quality leadership, adding that he is ready to lead the party to victory in the September 19 governorship election.
After displaying his membership card, he said: “I automatically become the leader of this party. I want to assure all of you (that) I am prepared to provide leadership.
“I am prepared to provide leadership that will lead this party to victory. I am prepared to provide leadership that will not only put PDP into office in Edo State but as a ruling party in Edo State, we will make sure that the level of progress, growth and participation in the political system and our people is unrivalled in this country.
“I am very happy to be here. With the reception I have received since I drove in here has been ecstatic. The energy I see in this party is the kind of energy I require to take Edo to the level we should go to next.”
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) has granted waiver to Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki to contest the Edo governorship election primary.
The action of the NWC is pursuant to Section 29(2)(b) of the PDP constitution and in exercise of the powers of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under Section (50)(3)(b) of the PDP constitution.
The NWC in exercise of the above powers ratified the application for waiver by the ward, local government and state executives of the party in Edo state and accordingly grants waiver to His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki to enable him contest the gubernatorial primary of the PDP.
Also the NWC has further shifted the Edo state governorship primary from an earlier slated date of Tuesday, June 23 to a new date of Thursday June 25, 2020.
The shift is again predicated on exigencies of party activities.
