Congresses: I didn’t take PDP to court, says Edo governorship aspirant, Ikhine

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Osamede Aghedo

A foremost Governorship aspirant of the PDP in Edo State, Engr. Gideon Ikhine has denied taking his party to court over the ‘faux outrage’ that arose from his party Wards, Local and State Congresses few months ago.

**GIDEON IKHINE, FOREMOST PDP GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANT IN EDO STATE**

Responding to the misjudgement, misleading assertions on social media and sponsored attacks against him by the elsewhile State Chairman of the party, Dan Orbih, Engr. Ikhine clarified that he is neither “in court with the party nor funding anyone in court”.

He disclosed this while addressing party members of his campaign organization in Benin City, the State Capital, ahead of the party Governorship primary election which has been slated for June 23, 2020.

He lamented that the desperation of some leaders of party in the State who imposed their Candidates on the party against the wish of the people, prompted some aggrieved members of PDP in Egor, Ovia North East, Etsako West, Akoko-Edo and others to seek redress in court.

“I didn’t take PDP to court. But, let us address the basic issues. Dan Orbih keeps telling people that Gideon went to court. Now, aggrieved PDP members in Egor Local Government Area who went to court over that Congress, Is it Gideon who hails from Esan West Local Government Area of the State that told them to go to court? No!

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“PDP members in Etsako West Local Government Area where Dan Orbih came from locality also went to court over that Congress. Am I the one who sent them?.

“Sir, the motto of PDP is justice. We are saying that there is problem in APC. But the problems in PDP is worse off”, he said, “if you have justice, will you go to court?”.

The aspirant warned that the the flames of discord being fanned by Orbih and his cohorts with ignoble motive if not checked may cost the party victory in the forthcoming Governorship election.

Ikhine said, “the problems in Edo PDP is transient and dangerous unlike the crisis Edo APC which is tangible”.

He further lamented that engulfed the State Chapter after the Congress festered because it was not properly handled.

Ikhine also accused Orbih of manipulation of the PDP Ward Congresses, adding that his failure to appear before the appeal panel Committee which was set up by the National leadership of the party, made the table of negotiation to collapse thereafter.

He stressed however that the fresh crisis in PDP spurred him and some leaders of the party to embark on peace building and reconciliation across almost all the 192 Wards in the State.

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According to him, the tour across almost all the 192 Wards in PDP has paid off, following the return of some prominent founding members of the party including Colonel Tunde Akogun from Akoko-Edo, Mr Yisa Braimoh and Mr Oyofo and prevented the mass defection that would have befall Edo PDP after Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu defected to PDP.

“The reason why I am pursuing peace is PDP is because I see myself as the foremost aspirant who will win the Governorship ticket”.

*The Way forward:

Engr Ikhine, appealed to the national leadership of PDP to invite the aggrieved members of the party to a meeting and prevail on them to opt for peaceful settlement out of court.

“As it stands today, anybody can emerge PDP Candidate or as the State Governor, but, if the court set that Congresses aside, that person’s position, will be nullified.

“But, they have refused to do that. Rather, they have chose to impose leaders in positions to negotiate during National and presidential elections.

“Sadly, some of them are not looking at the capacity to win elections, rather, what they want is to keep trading with the party in exchange for money and remain in opposition.

“In Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, PDP has four Officers who are from two Wards in that locality. They are Edo South Senatorial district Leader who is also the State Vice Chairman of the party, his younger brother who is an ex-Officio member of the party is from there. In addition to that, the Edo South women Leader and the State PDP Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Chris Nehikhare are both from Orhionmwon Local Government Area”. Is that justice?, Engr Ikhine queried.

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