Andrew Emwanta, a former Edo State commissioner for information, has alleged that Governor Godwin Obaseki appointed Omobayo Marvellous Godwins, a chieftain of the Labour Party, as his deputy due to his romance with the opposition party.
The former commissioner also alleged that Obaseki is secretly supporting the Labour Party’s candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, Olumude Akpata, should the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, fail to produce a candidate due to the internal crisis rocking the party.
Arogidigba Global Journal recalls that following the impeachment of the former deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, Obaseki on Monday appointed the 38-year-old Omobayo as his new deputy.
Omobayo was the candidate of the LP in the 2023 general election for Akoko Edo Federal Constituency of the State.
Speaking on the political developments in the state, Emwanta, who featured on an Arise TV program on Monday night, wondered why Obaseki failed to appoint a PDP member as his deputy.
He said, “This same speaker, it was the deputy governor that paid for his nomination form. We were in court to prevent them from being kicked out as candidates of the PDP.
“The governor did not clear any road, he was supporting a Labour Party candidate. The person who was sworn in today, was the Labour Party candidate in the last election.
“For the governor not to even bring people of his party on board, is bad. If anybody should replace Shaibu, it should be a PDP member not a Labour Party member.
“The person who was sworn in did not deny that he was the LP candidate who contested under that platform.
“The governor also offered me Labour Party ticket. He operates as PDP member during the day and Labour Party at night.
“This appointment is a confirmation of Obaseki’s romance with the Labour Party. He was in a hurry to bring in a Labour Party person so that when the PDP does not have a candidate, he supports the LP candidate who is his cousin”.