PBA ReporterEdo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Sunday, joined his colleagues, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, and Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu from Ondo State, for the inauguration of the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji.
Recall that Obaseki recently had reasons to clarify that he was still loyal to the PDP, a party he defected to during his bid for a second term in office when he was denied a ticket by the Adams Oshiomhole-led APC.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelNotwithstanding the fact that the Edo State governor has had a good relationship with the outgoing Governor Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is the only one among his PDP colleagues that joined APC governors at the swearing-in of the new Ekiti governor.
Other APC governors at the ceremony include Alhaji Mohammed Baduru Abubakar of Jigawa State; Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State. Others present at the occasion are Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, among others.
Obaseki exchanged pleasantries with the out-gone Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and other governors who were at the inauguration ceremony.
The former Head of Service (HOS) of Ekiti State and a Commissioner in the National Population Commission, Deji Ajayi welcomed dignitaries to the inauguration.
Obaseki’s recent brush with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike after the latter lost the 2023 presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar and a subsequent consolatory vice presidential ticket to Ifeanti Okowa, his contemporary in Delta State, had further put his loyalty to PDP in doubt. Wike, with his demand for Chairman Iyiorcha Ayu’s resignation is at the neck of the PDP, putting its electoral chances in more jeopardy.
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Statements attributed to Oshiomhole of late have tended to indicate possible support for a presidential candidate other than his ruling APC, and this appears to be providing enough courage for Obaseki to return home to the ruling APC, a source close to the Edo State government, told Prime Business Africa on Sunday.
Obaseki, who has had a running battle with Oshiomhole, his predecessor, since his (Obaseki’s) assumption of office as governor will naturally walk in an opposite direction with Oshiomhole, especially as his recent and confusing body language does not give him a firm footing in his party, giving room for APC stakeholders to doubt his full support for the candidate.
With Obaseki making public his willingness to identify with the new APC governor in Ekiti on Sunday, there are indications that he could be considering a return home to APC to support its candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the upcoming 2023 elections.
All three candidates have had cause to make overtures to Governor Obaseki in the last few months.
Obaseki, who gladly posed for photographs with APC stalwarts in Ekiti, noted that Ekiti State is a land that has produced great men and women across all spheres of human endeavour.
“This is the first time in the history of Ekiti State that a party will win an election back-to-back. Today, we are witnessing the swearing in of a new governor that will pilot the affairs of the State for the next four years.”
Former governor of Ekiti State Dr. Kayode Fayemi handed over the pen of authority to the new Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji before the Chief Judge of the State, Ayodeji Daramola administered the oath of office.
See below more pictures of Governor Obaseki’s visit to Ekiti on Sunday:
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