“Obaseki, a serial betrayer, abandoned those who helped him to power” – Ex-PDP stalwart

A former member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Charles Idahosa, on Wednesday accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of betraying those who helped him rise to power.

Speaking during an interview, Idahosa said that Obaseki’s current political challenges were self-inflicted, as this is the first time he is contesting an election without the support of political leaders who previously backed him.

Idahosa, who left the APC alongside Obaseki in 2020 when the governor was denied a second-term ticket, argued that Obaseki’s claims of being harassed and intimidated were baseless.

“For the first time, Obaseki is running an election alone, having discarded all the political leaders that have helped him politically since 2016,” he stated.

According to Idahosa, Obaseki has alienated 90% of the leaders who initially supported him when he transitioned from the APC to the PDP to secure his governorship.

“He betrayed all the leaders, pushed them aside, fought the traditional institution, party leaders, and even his deputy governor. What he is facing is self-inflicted because he thought he was already home and dry,” Idahosa stated.

The former Commissioner for Information under the Lucky Igbinedion administration and Special Adviser on Politics to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole emphasized that the upcoming election in Edo State will be free and fair.

He dismissed Obaseki’s claims of “federal might” as irrelevant, attributing the governor’s struggles to his alienation of key political figures.

Idahosa also addressed Obaseki’s recent comments regarding the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo, linking him to political rival Nyesom Wike.

“During Obaseki’s reelection in 2020, the REC in Edo State was from Bayelsa and was a governorship aspirant under APC. Why is it now he realizes the REC in this election is related to Wike?” he questioned.

The APC stalwart concluded by urging Governor Obaseki to let law enforcement do its job in investigating the July 18, 2024, killing of Inspector Akor Anuh, assuring that justice would be served.