▪︎ We have a harmonised Exco in Edo-Obaseki
▪︎ No, there is no harmonised Exco; what we have is a duly elected PDP state exco in Edo-Orbih
There is no let up in the gritty fight for control of the structure of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State.
The fight to the finish for control of the party has pitted the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and the national vice chairman (south-south) of the party, Chief Dan Osi Orbih.
Obaseki, a new entrant to the party on which platform he won re-election for a second term in 2020 makes no pretence about his desperation to assume total control of the party through a purported harmonisation of the party structures.
Orbih, on the hand, is insistent on ensuring that the state party executive committee is not tampered with in the name of harmonisation.
His position is that the exco, having been elected for a four year period shortly before Obaseki joined the party, remains the legal, bona fide exco.
Orbih who, as Edo State Chairman of the PDP for about ten years, enjoyed the support of the late Chief Tony Anenih, to lead and build the party in opposition while Obaseki was in the then ruling APC, was reported in some quarters to have said that Obaseki was involved in a game of deception.
In a circulated riposte to Obaseki’s attack on him in which the governor described him as irresponsible and the governor’s gambit to inaugurate a purported harmonised PDP exco this week, Orbih reportedly said: “Dr Iyorchia Ayu was elected as PDP National Chairman at the national convention held in Abuja in December 2022.
“Obaseki’s story to selected former APC members is that the National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, is coming to Edo State Thursday, next week, to inaugurate an illegal, unelected, handpicked harmonised state exco.
“Don’t be deceived, we have a duly elected PDP State Executive Committee (in place). Period!”
The latest spat is coming on the heels of a meeting Obaseki had with some PDP chieftains and supporters at the weekend in Benin wherein he dismissed reports of his planned defection from the party.
In a veiled reference to Orbih and his original PDP associates, including the bona fide State Exco who are resisting the move to tamper with their constitutionally circumscribed tenure of office, Obaseki had said that anyone uncomfortable with his leadership of the party should leave the party for him.
Obaseki had claimed that the party was now fully harmonized, stressing that the constitution of the party bequeathed him with the leadership of the party in the state, a position which he claimed was not contestable by anyone.
Read him: “I can’t leave PDP. I will not decamp from the PDP; we will always win any election. PDP won in the last election and we will continue to win all elections in the state and country; nothing will stop us as a party.”
“There is no division in Edo PDP. Let the party be open to accommodate others. PDP is democratic. The hallmark of democracy is ensuring that the majority has their way, as the minority can’t dictate to the people.
“I heard that Chief Dan Orbih went around, saying there is no harmonization in Edo PDP. This is really irresponsible to say and an insult to members of the party, as the party has truly harmonised in the state,” he had stated.
He had added: “PDP in Edo State is harmonised because before we made any appointments in any ward, we made sure the party at that level was harmonised. We are gathered here now as election timetable is out; harmonisation has been done, appointments made and we are ready to win any election before us.”
Recall that the claims of the governor followed the crisis in the party that came with the proposal to integrate those who came with the governor from the All Progressives Congress, APC when he joined the party into the state, LGA and ward executives of the PDP.
A large section of the party members had reportedly frowned at the proposal on harmonisation from Governor Obaseki and were supported by Orbih to the discomfort of the governor.
The crisis led to the “suspension” of Orbih by a caucus of PDP chieftains hosted by the governor in October 2021.
The suspension was sharply rebuffed by the state executive of the party and annulled by the national leadership of the party.
Others at the weekend meeting included the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu; Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Hon. Marcus Onobun; Senator Matthew Urhoghide; Senator Clifford Odia; Chief Tom Ikimi; Hon. Joe Edionwele and National Youth Deputy Leader of PDP, Timothy Osadolor, among others.
However, the assertions were on Sunday night being challenged with some asking for a proof of the powers claimed by the governor at the meeting.
“Are we now operating the Edo PDP with another constitution? You may wish to intimate me with the section in this constitution that gave him this right and power,” a stakeholder was quoted to have asked.
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