The fate of Godwin Obaseki in the hands of judiciary

The estranged governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki seems to be going through the toughest period of his political career as the possibility of him emerging as the flag bearer of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now becomes dicey after his popular disqualification from his former party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

Three days ago, a court of competent jurisdiction in Portharcourt granted a prayer by a prospective candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prevent the governor from participating in the party’s primary election which is due in a matter of days from now, the courts’ ruling sparked controversy prompting the legal representative of the seating governor to file another suit in a Federal High Court in Abuja contesting the previous ruling.

Fortunately for the governor, the previous ruling was upturned and he has been reinstated to contest in the People’s Democratic Party’s primary election. The argument of the governor’s legal team was hinged on the waiver granted by the party’s executive to the aspirant which they believed supersedes the lateness in the purchase of interest form and the screening purportedly waved to allow the governor to contest in the primary.

It is no brainer that Governor Godwin Obaseki is currently fighting to keep his head above the water and apparently the current of the water seemed to be more turbulent than he anticipated. However, the current realities show he has the resources and the tenacity to withstand the fiery darts thrown at him by his political godfathers.

Meanwhile, many Nigerians are curiously waiting for the eventualities of the Edo state gubernatorial elections and many are believing that this time, things might turn out differently and the political heavyweights in the state might have to eat the humble pie as a new precedent might be set from this loggerheads.

Social commentators and public affairs analysts have said that the governor is out to prove that against all odds he emerges as the candidate to win the upcoming elections and that if it takes him to use all the resources at his disposal to achieve that, he would stop at nothing to grab his second term ticket.

Given the background above, what do you think the state of Nigeria’s judicial system is? What is the fate of an average member of this country? Where is the trust of the masses vested in politicians when their mandates were given? Where is the place of the people in the midst of all these shenanigans? What will eventually be the outcome of these power tussles? Who will succumb to pressure and throw in the towel? Or will there be a compromising point where both parties will get what they want?

Many more questions have been raised while many more are still popping up and Edo state indigents are patiently waiting for the outcome of this superiority fight between the immediate past governor of the state, Adams Oshiomole and the current governor, Godwin Obaseki.

If Godwin Obaseki eventually emerges as the representative of the PDP in the upcoming primaries due in two days, he will be pitched against his arch rival, Pastor Ize-Iyamu said to be a grassroots individual popular all over the state. Is it therefore safe to say that the forthcoming election is going to be very stiff and difficult to determine who will emerge as the next governor of the state?

It is only a matter of time before all the political drama currently ongoing in Edo state will be laid to rest.

By Emmanuel Oyebade