Nigeria’s Political Wars: Obaseki’s Tumultuous Genesis as Governor

In a heated debate on the floor of Nigeria’s Senate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio accused outgoing Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki of turning against his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, who played a crucial role in his emergence as governor. This statement has sparked a long-standing political drama, rooted in Oshiomole’s instrumental role in Obaseki’s initial victory.

Obaseki’s rise to power began in 2016, when he won the governorship election against Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Oshiomole, then a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), was instrumental in Obaseki’s victory, bucking the wishes and advice of party leaders.

However, two years into Obaseki’s tenure, party leaders expressed frustration with his administration for excluding them from key decision-making processes. The issue ultimately reached Oshiomole, who attempted to mediate, but Obaseki refused to budge, vowing to never succumb to godfatherism, a prevalent political phenomenon in Nigeria where powerful figures exert undue influence over state politics.

The rift between the two men escalated, fueling a “Cold War” that has persisted since. In a surprising twist, Obaseki even approached Oshiomole in 2024 to mend fences and clear the path for his candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the governorship election. Unfortunately, Ighodalo went on to lose the poll.

As Nigeria’s political landscape continues to evolve, the Oshiomole-Obaseki drama serves as a stark reminder of the complex power struggles and machinations that govern state politics in the country. Only time will tell how these events will shape the future of Edo State and the APC.