The Ebonyi State governor Mr. Dave Umahi yesterday officially left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and became a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in an unprecedented move. He was one of the few governors the PDP could rely upon in the country. However, after much persuasion and negotiation with him, he said his goodbye to the PDP.
He might not be the only PDP governor to take such a decision. There is another PDP governor that may leave the party soon and PDP dominance in the country will be further reduced.
Mr. Godwin Obaseki may be the next PDP governor to excuse himself from the political party. It will be recalled that Obaseki became a member of the PDP only because of issues he had with some party leaders.
How Governor Obaseki became a member of the PDP
Till May 2020 Godwin Obaseki was a member of the APC. He was the only APC governor in the south-south geopolitical zone. And he was popular within the party perhaps because he took on Mr. Adams Oshiomole, the former national chairman of the party.
Obaseki was outright disqualified from participating in the APC primary election, hence he couldn’t pick up the ticket of the party to run for second term in office.
Obaseki was then left with no choice but to run to the PDP. He first met some notable PDP governors in the region including the Rivers State governor Mr. Nyesom Wike.
Having got the green light, Mr. Obaseki officially left the APC and joined the PDP. That means his defection from the APC to the PDP was far beyond what he could personally control.
Why Obaseki may return to APC
Godwin Obaseki didn’t have issues with the entire APC. The problem is that he couldn’t agree with some party leaders who determined what happens at the party.
Obaseki’s political home is the APC. He only used the PDP to actualize his second term bid which he has got. Apart from that, Obaseki is a close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. John Odige-Oyegun
