Edo primaries: APC dares Obaseki, refuses to apply for the permit.

No primary will be kept without government approval, the government insisted.

Withdrawing two more, EJ-Ayamu became the only APC aspirant.

Some APC governors have said Edo Gov. in support of my re-election.

IG Delta has deployed other police personnel in Edo, including Boyles.

The party has rejected an order issued by the state government ahead of the All Progressive Congress governing primary in Edo State on Monday (tomorrow) that political parties must seek the governor’s approval to hold any political rally.

The APC asserted that it did not need to seek permission from the Governor of the State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, directly for the primary as its preferred method for selecting candidates for the September 19, 2020, Governorate elections.

Obaseki published in a gazette signed on May 26, June 5, banning political gatherings that may have been directly possible in the state, and directing that Benin City is held only in the indirect primary state and in one place only.

The order partially states, "Political parties may be allowed to assemble more than 20 people for the purpose of conducting a primary for any party interested in running in the forthcoming global elections, subject to its written approval by the Governor if such conferences do not exceed 5,000; Stay in single facilities in Benin City and with a huge seating capacity of fewer than 10,000 acres; Adequate health, safety and sanitary facilities are provided and the COVID-19 response is consistent with the proper use of social distance policy, hand washing and thorough monitoring of facial masks.

The governor explained that the law was consistent with his administration's determination to stop the spread of COVID-19. The APC, however, argued that it was a political move to stop direct preliminary selection of candidates. The Independent National Electoral Commission has revealed that out of the 15 political parties participating in the elections, 14 have chosen indirect primary, only the APC has chosen direct primary.

However, in response to a PNHC inquiry on Saturday, APC Acting National Chairman Abiola Azimobi, speaking via National Vice Chairman (South-South) Hilliard Ita, said in a telephone interview that the APC, as a legal party, believed that Godwin Obaseki had gazetted only Feder. The power to execute such orders was given.

"Under the law, just as it is in force in Nigeria today, only the federal government has the power to legislate under a coronavirus national epidemic like we have today," he said. The gazette signed by Obaseki states that no more than 50 people can gather.

“In any case, since we now have only one aspirant left, we don’t have to take any permission to handle the confirmation.

"All we need to do is ask the question, 'Do you want a conclusion, Pastor Ije-Ayamu, yes or no? I will do the affirmation. ”