The Edo State deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, and eight other Peoples Democratic Party aspirants for the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the State have boycott Ward Congress held on Sunday in the State.
Members of Edo PDP legacy group led by the National Vice Chairman of the party, (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih, former members of the House of Representatives in Oredo and Ovia federal Constituencies, Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, and Omosede Igbinedion also shunned the exercise that held across the 192 Wards.
Other aggrieved members are Mr Anselm U. Ojezua; Hon Felix Akhabue; Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi: Hafia Hadizat Umoru; Hon. Omosede Igbinedion: Dr Earl Osaro Onaiwu and Barr. Arthur Esene.
The aspirants announced their withdrawal and expressed their displeasure in a letter sent to the Acting National Chairman of the party and copied to the PDP National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Dan Orbih, faulted the process and compositions of PDP Committee that conducted the election.
Also, the chairman of the three man committee and Governor of the Oyo State, Seyi Makinde withdrew from the exercise, paving way for the vice chairman and Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah to step in, where he commended the high turnout of the exercise.
Addressing party faithful at the George Idah Primary School Benin City which is the venue for the collation Centre for Ward 2, in Oredo Local government Area of the State, governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, lauded the turn out of PDP delegates at the Congresses.
He said, “This is democracy where our people come to exercise their franchise, we appreciate this turnout, our party is known for its principles which is fairness, equity and justice. I wish you to all conduct yourselves properly as we hold this election”.
At Ward 7 in Ugbekun Primary School, Ikpoba-Okha Local government Area of the State, Dr. Major Itemowe led others to conduct the exercise while in Oluku Ward, Hon Kunle Koya from Lagos state conducted the exercise.
Also speaking to journalists in his Ward 4 Collation Centre, Idia College, Governor Obaseki said the crisis in the ruling party in the State was being over hyped, which will not affect the outcome of the governorship election.
Obaseki said, “You can see from the crowd here that it is a lot of success, a huge turn out, we had over 600 people coming out to participate here. Our people of very politically aware we are happy with this turn out to elect delegates for a our gubernatorial primary and we are also expecting this huge turnout in the main election”.
Reacting to the resignation of the Edo State Ward PDP Ward Congresses, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Obaseki said his decision as unfortunate.
Obaseki explained that the withdrawal of some delegates and governorship aspirants will not invalidate the outcome of the peaceful and credible exercise.
The Governor said, “It is unfortunate that Makinde withdrew, there are three Governors and he is only one of three so withdrawing does not really remove the credibility of the process and it is not just the process.
“And what makes a process credible is the quality of the participation and you can see for yourself so it is unfortunate that Governor Makinde had to take such decision but I hope that all our efforts to continue to unify the party and pacify all players would continue.
“We are not deterred at all, we are going to make sure that PDP plays its role in the politics of this Country “, Obaseki assured.
Commenting on the non-participation of members of the Legacy Coalition of the PDP, the Governor said, “You cannot have a hundred percent, clearly you can see the crowd here.
“When we were in APC before we joined the PDP, we didn’t have these numbers so clearly the people we met in the party are still in the party”, he said.
“The crisis is hyped, it is not as fundamental as it is made to look on ground, there is very little crisis, the crisis is fanned from outside and our people are smarter than that. You will see during the main election, we are not going to allow ourselves to be sold”, according to him.
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