The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Edo State began yesterday on a shaky note.
A meeting called by the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party in Benin City, the state capital, was boycotted by those loyal to the National Vice Chairman (Southsouth), Chief Dan Orbih.
The Orbih followers – members of the Legacy Coalition in Edo State chapter of the PDP – allegedly stayed away to protest how the chapter was being managed in the Southsouth state.
Apart from protest by the camp loyal to Orbih, Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, at loggerheads.
Yesterday, the governor said the party will determine the fate of Shaibu and others jostling to succeed him.
Obaseki spoke in Bauchi, Bauchi State, when he and his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Umo Eno, paid a congratulatory visit to Governor Bala Mohammed on his victory at the Court of Appeal.
In Edo, the crisis rocking the party deepened with the State Secretary, Hilary Otsu, disowning the purported SEC meeting and warning members to stay away.
Otsu said: “Dear Edo PDP leaders, it has come to my notice that a certain notice of meeting has been sent to leaders of our party. Kindly note that the constitution of PDP empowers only the secretary to call meetings.
“The purported notice, carrying an unverifiable printed signature is being circulated by mischief makers, who intend to cause confusion and further divide the party.
“I have not abdicated my responsibilities to the party. So, I advise you to ignore this invite, as the party will not take kindly to such act of sabotage, going forward.”
Another group within the party, believed be loyal to the governor, said it had launched a membership drive.
In a statement, the State Assistant Secretary, Luckson Ogedegbe, said the party commenced registration of new members yesterday.
It directed the State Working Committee (SWC) of PDP to drive the timetable for the 2024 governorship primary.
Ogedegbe said the decision was taken at a meeting of leaders of the party across the state, which he claimed had 89 of the 120 expected members.
Claiming that key decisions were taken during deliberations on issues affecting Edo PDP, he said: “The SEC mandated the SWC to drive the time table of the coming governorship primary, as released by PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).
“The SEC mandated all ward chairmen to open the party’s registers in their various wards, and commence the registration of new members, starting November 30, 2023.
“The SEC mandated the SWC to direct any ward where registration does not start by Friday, December 1, 2023 to open a new register.
“The SEC directed that all ward registers must be submitted to Edo State secretariat of PDP at 59, Airport Road, Benin City, not later than December 6, 2023, for onward submission to the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.
“The SEC directed that all activities of the party must be carried out in the various ward secretariats of PDP in Edo.”
Ogedegbe also disclosed that the SEC of the party directed the SWC to set up committees in the local government areas and wards to monitor the party’s registration.
Obaseki: PDP will decide my deputy’s fate
Obaseki, who spoke on his deputy’ declaration to succeed him in office, said PDP will determine Shaibu’s fate and others jostling to run for September 21, 2024 Edo governorship poll.
Obaseki insisted that only the PDP has the sole right to determine its candidate.
Describing his relationship with his deputy as cordial, Obaseki said: “He wants to run for the office and he is free to do so and you know as a Nigerian, he has the constitutional right to run and nobody can or should stop him.
“The party will decide and also the members of the party will decide who will fly the flag of our party in the forthcoming general election in Edo.
“I’m only one out of the millions party members in Edo and I don’t think my vote would determine whether he becomes the flag bearer or not.”
Obaseki said the visit to Bauchi was to also discuss some pertinent issues relating to the PDP Governors’ Forum and other matters affecting the country.
THE NATION
