(PRESS RELEASE) Re: Suspension of Chief Dan Orbih, Edo North Senatorial Chairman and five others

▪︎it’s a figment of the imagination of trouble brewers

▪︎it’s the handiwork of fifth columnists

▪︎Suspension, joke taken too far

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State is constrained to react to the unacceptable and regrettable behaviour of some of its members in the last few hours.

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The authors of that offensive press release or communique are trouble brewers sponsored by fifth columnists in what can only be described as a joke taken too far.

▪︎It’s unacceptable, null and void!

The unauthorized, illegal, unconstitutional and irresponsible sharing of social media post announcing suspensions of party officials is hereby condemned and denounced.

Consequently, Nigerians, Edo people and especially PDP members and supporters are advised to ignore the post, press release or communique

purporting that the National Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih and other elected officials of the party from Edo North Senatorial district have been suspended.

Edo PDP is a peaceful, united and vibrant political party where dialogue is our watchword. We encourage political engagements and contestations which must be guided by the tenets of our constitution. We however frown at political indiscipline that brings disrepute to our brand.

As a party in government, we must live and operate by example. We must abide by the rule of law and always be conscious of the message we send to the general public at all times.

I appeal to our members across the state to remain calm and keep their eyes on the ball. Do not be distracted.

#EdoFirst

#EdoMustMoveForward

Signed

Chris Osa Nehikhare

STATE PUBLICITY SECRETARY, PDP EDO STATE

Read below the story that triggered the above response:

Edo PDP in crisis as Gale of suspension hits party

The crisis within the ruling PDP in Edo occasioned by issues of integration of new members that came with Governor Godwin Obaseki from the All Progressives Congress (APC) into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a dangerous dimension on Thursday as some leaders of the PDP in Edo North announced the suspension of the National Vice Chairman South South of the PDP, Chief Dan Osi Orbih from the party in a move reminiscent of how outgone National chairman Uche Secondus was ousted.

Also suspended from the party is the State Secretary of the party, Hillary Otsu.

A communique issued at the end of its meeting at the PDP Secretariat in Auchi, Etsako West local government area said they also suspended the Edo North Senatorial Chairman of the party, Hon Samuel Saiki and the local government chairmen of five out of the six Local Government Areas of  Edo North. The sixth, Etsako West Local Government Area does not currently have elected exco of the party.

But dismissing the actions, State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chris Nehikhare said the said suspension should be disregarded as it is of no consequence.

Part of the communique signed by 15 leaders from the six local government areas that make up the zone said Orbih was frustrating the efforts of the governor to harmonize the party by leading the other suspended persons to boycott the recent stakeholders meeting called by Obaseki.

It reads “Having x-rayed recent developments in the state chapter of the PDP in Edo State it has become imperative to save our great party from imminent collapse and instill discipline in the hierarchy.

“We also view with serious concerns all the moves by Chief Dan Orbih, the Senatorial Chairman and the 5 Party Chairmen from Akoko-Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Owan East and Owan West to truncate all efforts being made by Mr. Governor to have a harmonized party structure across the State. it is no longer secret that Chief Dan Orbih who had earlier sponsored some persons to go to court against the leader of the Party.

“As leaders of the party from the zone, we view this as an act of gross misconduct and, a violation of the party’s constitution and by extension, an act of antiparty activities.

“In view of the above, a vote of no confidence and suspension was passed

on Chief Dan Orbih, the State Secretary of the PDP, Senatorial Chairman and the 5 PDP LGA Chairmen in Edo North.” (situationnews.com)