A former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has urged the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki to join the Peoples Democratic Party in his re-election bid.

It was gathered that Atiku contacted Obaseki on Friday after he was disqualified from participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the September 19 governorship election in Edo state.

The former vice-president, who was the PDP candidate in the last presidential election, is also making way for “soft landing” for Obaseki should he defect to the party which is the main opposition in Edo.

Although the PDP constitution requires any member of the party seeking elective position under its platform to at least be registered for 18 months, it gives room for a waiver.

It was also  gathered  that the former presidential candidate discussed Obaseki’s likely defection with some governors in the PDP.

Crusoe Osagie, Obaseki’s spokesman, did not immediately respond to enquiries on the issue when he was contacted on Saturday.

Oshiomhole is believed to be backing Osagie Ize-Iyamu who has been named the consensus candidate of one of the APC factions in Edo

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