The Managing Director of Capital Oil, Ifeanyi Ubah, has said that Oseloka Obaze, who was declared the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary for the forthcoming Anambra governorship was not qualified to contest for the party’s ticket.
However, Obaze denied the claims saying he “certainly” met the requirement to contest in the primary.
Ubah and Obaze had this argument when both of them appeared on Channels Television’s programme ‘Sunday Politics’ anchored by Seun Okinbaloye and monitored by DAILY POST.
Obaze had polled 672 votes, his closest rival Dr Alex Obiogbolu got 190 votes, while Ubah polled 94 votes, according to the results announced by the Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Dave Umahi, who supervised the poll.
But Ubah claimed Obaze, who served as SSG under former Governor Peter Obi and incumbent governor Willie Obiano, should not have been allowed to contest in the first case.
Beyond that, he alleged that the delegates list used for the primary was different from the certified true copy he got from the party.
Asked why he was unhappy with the outcome of the primary, he said, “The primary (reason) is that Mr Oseloka Obaze did not even qualify ab initio to be part of the contest. He didn’t have the requisite waiver from the party.”
Ubah, who said the National Executive Council is the only organ of the party that can give a waiver, explained that the PDP’s NEC couldn’t have given Obaze a waiver.
The Capital Oil boss said, “He (Obaze) granted an interview to the press in February this year that he doesn’t even know the party he is going to use to contest the election. That is almost six months ago. And the party’s constitution stipulates that it must be two years. He didn’t have it (the waiver).
“We had screening on the 9th and 10th of August. There was a NEC meeting on the 11th and that is the last NEC meeting till date. So, NEC did not give any waiver. There was no mentioning of waiver. So, how did he come in to be part of the primary? These are the technicalities, the deficiencies and the politics that the party continue to impose somebody.”
On his part, Obaze denied the claims, saying he “certainly” met the requirement to contest in the primary.
On claims that he got a provisional waiver, Obaze said, “No, I got a provisional clearance and, subsequently, I got a waiver from the National Caretaker Committee.”
He added, “You have the National Working Committee and you have the NEC that is the whole body. When they are not in full session, the Working Committee takes care of business. But the waiver was duly given.”
He also rejected claims that he was imposed on the party, saying it is a matter of perception.
“The process was clear, due process. The primary was conducted transparently on national television.
“So, I don’t understand where this is coming from. I don’t want to ascribe labels to people who are sore losers but that seems to be the case.”
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