Edo: Crisis In PDP As 9 Aspirants Boycott Congress Election, Makinde Withdraws As Committee Chairman

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party seems to have no end in sight as the party’s congress election in Edo State, on Sunday, generated uproar as nine out of the 11 PDP governorship aspirants boycotted the exercise.

The Congress was conducted to pick delegates that will participate in the party’s February 22 governorship primary.

The nine governorship aspirants, who boycotted the delegates election, were Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, Hafia Hadizat Umoru, Omosede Igbinedion, Dr Earl Osaro Onaiwu and Arthur Esene.

In a protest letter to the PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and a copy to the National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Dan Orbih, the nine aspirants complained about the composition of the committee conducting the delegates election.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who was the chairman of the three-man committee in charge of the Edo delegates election, also withdrew from the exercise.

Speaking on Makinde’s withdrawal, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, said it is unfortunate but maintained that that would not undermine the credibility of the exercise, which, he said, witnessed a large turnout of party members

Speaking to party members at the George Idah Primary School, GRA, Benin, the collation centre for Ward 2, the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mba who is the deputy chairman of the committee said, “This is democracy where our people come to exercise their franchise. We appreciate this turnout. Our party is known for the principles of fairness, equity and justice. I wish you to all conduct yourselves properly as we hold this election.”

Speaking to journalists in his Ward 4 collation centre, Idia College, Governor Obaseki said the crisis in the party was being blown out of proportions and that it would not affect the outcome of the governorship election.

He said, “You can see from the crowd here that it is a lot of success due to the huge turnout. We had over 600 people coming out to participate here; our people are very politically aware and we are happy with this turnout to elect delegates for our governorship primary. We are also expecting this huge turnout in the main election.”

On the resignation of Makinde, Obaseki said, “It is unfortunate that Makinde withdrew. There are three governors and he is only one of the three that withdrew, which does not remove the credibility of the process. What makes a process credible is the quality of the participation. You can see the turnout; so it is unfortunate that Governor Makinde had to take such a decision. I hope that all our efforts to continue to unify the party and pacify all stakeholders will continue. We are not deterred at all, we are going to make sure that the PDP plays its role in the politics of this country.”

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, when contacted said,” It is publicly known that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, for personal reasons known only to him, resigned as Chairman of the PDP Edo State Ad Hoc Delegate Congress Electoral Committee. We are not aware of any other person who boycotted.”

However, the Chief Press Secretary to Makinde, Sulaimon Olanrenwaju, said he was not aware that his principal resigned.

“I’m not aware that he resigned. I’m not aware,” he said.