Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has siad that he has no plan of leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the governorship election in the state in 2020.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Benin City on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Political and Community Matters, Chief Osaro Idah.
His statement was in response to a publication in one of the national dailies, which alleged that the Governor was making moves for a fresh platform to run for the forthcoming election should APC denies him ticket.
Idah said: “Our attention has been drawn to a news item published on page 12 of Vanguard edition of July 16, 2019, stating that Governor Godwin Obaseki met with two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, to strategise on a fresh platform to run for re-election, should the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole deny him the APC gubernatorial ticket.
“Media houses and members of the public should be wary of stories like this planted by detractors of the governor and the Edo State Chapter of the APC. These persons are threatened by the wide acceptance and support which the governor enjoys from his people.
“We state categorically that Governor Obaseki has no intention of leaving the APC, where he has firm support at the state level and across all local governments, wards and units of the party.
“In Edo State, the Governor’s popularity within the party and across the state is overwhelming and the few deviant troublemakers within Edo APC and their sponsors in Abuja are warned to desist from the irresponsible act of trying to cause trouble in their own home while seeking refuge elsewhere.”
Chief Idah’s statement added that “beyond Edo State, Governor Obaseki’s growing popularity and influence within the APC, recently earned him the position of Vice Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, a position he has tremendous respect for.”