Edo guber: PDP group led by Orbih aims to outsmart Obaseki

A new faction inside the state-controlled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), headed by Vice Chairman of the party’s South-South, C. Dan Orbih, has pledged to deliver the party’s candidate for the upcoming Edo State governorship election in 2024.

The group declared that it will oppose any attempt by the governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, to “impose” his choice on the party’s nominee.

Attending the meeting at Orbih’s house, a party official revealed that the group known as Legacy Coalition is composed of former party members who joined before Obaseki did in 2020.

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He claimed that the members of the party led by Orbih, some of the party’s founder members who had previously left, and those who joined the PDP alongside the governor from the All Progressives Congress (APC) comprise the Legacy Group.

Among the prominent members of the new group were Charles Idahosa, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT); Dr. Esosa Amadasun, a former state Woman Leader of the APC; Frank Okiye, a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly; Orobosa Omo-Ojo, a former state Commissioner in the administration of Adams Oshiomhole; and nine other former local government area chairmen.

Along with Owere Dickson Imasogie, the group also includes Pascal Ugbmohe, a former PDP senatorial candidate for Edo North, Ogbeide-Ihama and Sergius Ogun, Hilary Otsu, the party’s state secretary, Tes Soroe, the state’s woman leader, and several other former members of the House of Representatives.

Speaking to the group prior to a private meeting, Orbih expressed optimism that the opposition could win elections under President Bola Tinubu’s administration with careful planning, citing the PDP’s victory in the off-circle governorship election in Bayelsa State. However, he bemoaned the division caused by Obaseki’s entry into the party.

He said, “We have understood that not only do we have difficulties in our state, but we also have the power to control our own future. The governor that arises as a result of your backing is one who will recognise you without asking you to introduce yourself. Our next governor will be someone who has grown up here and will continue to live here; someone who understands the difficulties our state faces.

“It is because I cry every time I see what we are dealing with now that I am not as frequent as I once was in Benin City. Before Governor Godwin Obaseki was elected, this PDP was united in love. He joined us and caused division within the party, but now that I’ve seen the faces of those in attendance, I’m more convinced than ever that the PDP can stay in power if we choose one of these candidates to be the next governor of Edo State.

Idahosa, for his part, blamed the leaders for failing to speak out against the governor’s actions, which he claimed have made the deputy governorship position “very unattractive,” and stated that the party needs to communicate effectively with the national leadership of the party in order to receive a fair hearing.