I’m Not Expecting to Get Justice, Obaseki Laments as APC Begins Screening

The All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday commenced the screening of Edo State governorship aspirants ahead of the June 22 primary.

Apart from Obaseki, others screened at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja were Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Hon. Osaro Obazee, Mr. Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Dr. Pius Odubu.

The seven-man screening committee commenced work at about 1 p.m.

Obaseki had earlier arrived at the party national secretariat at about 1:10 p.m, but left about five minutes later, after making an appearance at the conference room, venue of the screening.

He returned at about 8pm and was grilled for over two hours.

The governor, after the screening, expressed doubt if he would get justice from the committee because Oshiomhole is an interested party in the Edo primary.

He stated: “The last time I came here, I asked that Oshiomhole recuse himself from the process in the interest of peace and justice. But as a party man, I have had to go through the screening like everybody else. “Since he is the judge and the jury in this matter, I will just wait for the outcome of the screening. I have given them all the information they need; the controversial certificate from the University of Ibadan has been tendered.

“Like I said, as a party man, I have gone through the screening process but I do not believe that I will get justice because Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is an interested party in the Edo process.

“One of the questions that I was asked was that why did I issue a gazette that will prevent the party from performing direct elections in Edo State – that did I not see it as an anti-party activity? I just felt that if we put politics above the lives of the people of Edo State, we may be missing the point.”

The two-day screening will continue today with the sixth aspirant, Hon. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, expected to appear before the committee.

Speaking during the screening of the aspirants, the Chairman of the committee, Prof. Jonathan Ayuba, said that the committee took the challenge not because it was complex, adding that the integrity of the committee members are at stake.

He noted that the committee is not a judicial committee, neither is it investigating the aspirants.

He added that the job of the committee is to verify information about the six aspirants based on evidence and facts.