The various power centres in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State at each other’s throat over the governorship ticket of the party for the September 2024 election to determine the successor Godwin Obaseki. The main power brokers are embroiled in claims and counterclaims over the process that will culminate into the primary. IDAHOSA MOSES gives an insight into the seamless power struggle among the top notch.
IT is not long news that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be contesting the September 21 gubernatorial election in Edo State. The off circle governorship is expected to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP. Flowing from the above, some stakeholders said it would have been expected that the PDP approaches the said election with a rancour-free party with a view to winning the election.
However, this is not the case with the party that was once viewed as the biggest political party in Africa. The PDP, prior to the INEC announcement of the timetable for the conduct of party primaries for the Edo governorship poll, have been battling with internal crisis. At the centre of the Edo State PDP imbroglio are Chief Dan Orbih, the party National Vice Chairman, South-South, who is leading the Legacy Coalition faction and Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is regarded as the point man in the other. Also at the centre of the storm is a PDP National Leader and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, who is rooting for Edo Central Governor for Edo. The development led to the Dan Orbih and Governor Godwin factions supporting two aspirants for the party sole ticket.
The PDP Organising Secretary was alleged to be favourably disposed to Obaseki’s side of the party, following the composition of the committee that conducted the adhoc delegate election in the state. While the two-time former Member of House of Representatives, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama is allegedly supported by the legacy faction, the former Board Chairman of Sterling Bank, Nigerian Breweries, Dr Asue Ighodalo, on the other hands is said to be the choice of the governor’s camp faction.
Another issue affecting the party ahead of the election is that of adhoc delegates’ election held last Sunday, which has triggered reactions and counter-reactions from the two factions. Interestingly, prior to the conduct of the party Ward delegates’ congress, Governor Seyi Makinde, resigned his appointment as chairman of the delegates election committee. Makinde hinged his resignation on the alleged irregularities on the list of appointed electoral officers. He also alleged that the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly was leading the team of Electoral Officers in his own local government area, Owan West.
Also, nine out of the 10 aspirants of the party, who claimed to have perceived compromise of the ward delegates congress, boycotted the process, accusing Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who replaced Governor Makinde as acting chairman of the delegate congress of bias.
Furthermore, impending litigation from aspirants is another issue set to threaten the chances of the PDP in the main election. This is because the nine aggrieved aspirants, barring any last-minute change, are threatening to challenge the PDP delegates in court. Another factor that is posing challenge to the party in the buildup to the September 21, governorship election is the issue of alleged agreement between Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama and the governor’s faction. It was learnt that Ogbeide-Ihama was begged to dropped his governorship ambition for Obaseki in the buildup to the Edo 2020 governorship election.
Moreover, it was learnt that supporters of a former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Ogbeide, have argued that their principal should have been given the ticket in 2024 in the spirit of fairness, considering that he was prevailed upon in 2020 to step down for Obaseki after he lost out in the All Progressives Congress (APC). “If Honourable OgbeideIhama could listen to the voices of the party in 2020 and drop his ticket for Obaseki, the avenue to start the prayer for justice, equity, and fairness is the Ihama Avenue. If Ihama could win Oredo federal constituency back to back in 2015 when APC was in control and 2019 when Obaseki was governor, it shows he is connected to the grassroots because the constituency has never reelected any Representatives’ member since the start of the Fourth Republic. Besides, the leaders are saying, since we begged the young man to step down in 2020, this should be the time we honoured our word and support him as a candidate,” a PDP leader said.
Again, the ambition of incumbent deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, is causing concerns as well in the party. Following his open disagreement with Governor Obaseki, Shaibu has continue to insist on his governorship quest. According to some concerned party members and observers, the development may further cause a split in the PDP if he fails to clinch the party’s ticket.
However, sources close to the PDP in Edo noted that another key concern is the zoning debate. While Governor Obaseki is keen on favouring Edo Central for the top seat on the ground of fairness, equity, and justice, the challenge, according to insiders, is whether the zone has the numbers to deliver the election. Beside his perceived candidate, Ighodalo, coming from Edo Central, Obaseki is said to have argued that Edo South and North have occupied the governorship for 16 years and eight years respectively. The central zone occupied the seat under Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, for a year and six months before he was sacked by the court. But it was learnt that those opposed to zoning the ticket to the central zone say it does not have the electoral demography to win in the face of a building opposition.
Optimism
Apparently, Governor Obaseki and his counterpart in Oyo State, Makinde, disagreed over the PDP ward congress in Edo, but with the former saying the crisis in the state chapter of the PDP is being over-hyped and would not affect the outcome of the 2024 governorship election. Obaseki spoke in his Ward 4 Collation Centre, Idia College, during the PDP ward congress held across the 192 wards of Edo to elect delegates that will participate in the February 22 primary. According to him, the party is more united and will go into the elections stronger. “You can see from the crowd here that it is a lot of success. You can see the huge turnout. We had over 600 people coming out to participate here; our people are very politically aware. We are happy with this turnout to elect delegates for our gubernatorial primary, and we are also expecting this huge turnout in the main election,” Obaseki said. He described as unfortunate that governor Makinde withdrew as the chairman of the ad hoc committee chairman for the election of delegates for the primary. He added: “There are three governors, and he is only one of them; so, withdrawing does not remove the credibility of the process. What makes a process credible is the quality of participation, and you can see for yourself. So, it is unfortunate that Makinde had to take such a decision, but I hope all our efforts to unify the party and pacify all players will continue.”
Makinde’s letter
In his letter of resignation, Governor Makinde appreciated PDP for considering him worthy for the appointment as chairman of the committee for the election of delegates to elect delegates for the conduct of primary for governorship. He proffered reasons for declining to serve in the capacity. He stated: “Let me begin by first thanking the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for nominating me to serve as chairman of this very crucial and sensitive committee. However, given that I was notified of my appointment as the chairman of this very important committee on Friday, February 2, 2024, for a congress scheduled for February 3 and 4, 2024, I regret to inform the NWC that I will be declining this appointment as I have prior state engagements for these dates. The late notification also means that I could not properly review any actions taken by the Directorate of Organisation before my appointment.”
Wadata House replies
PDP national secretariat acknowledged the letter of Makinde in which he declined his appointment. It made it clear that the whole process embarked upon by the party was all in sync with due process. It stated: “This is to officially confirm the receipt of your letter dated Friday, February 2, 2024, and received today, February 3, 2024, declining your appointment as the chairman of the Edo State three-man ad-hoc ward congresses electoral committee for the purposes of electing three delegates at the ward congresses scheduled to hold on Sunday, February 4, 2024.
“The exercise is governed by rules and regulation as contained in the ‘PDP Electoral Guidelines for Governorship Primary Election,’ made available to all. Pursuant to this guideline, there are provisions for the Electoral Appeal Panel whose mandate, among others, is to hear and consider appeals and petitions arising from the conduct of the exercise. It is, therefore, advisable for any aggrieved aspirant to forward his or her petition to the Electoral Appeal Panel.”
No doubt, the PDP is gradually having its hands full as the conduct of the primary to pick its candidate of the September 21 election in the state. Already, some chieftains of the chieftains have begun to champion reconciliation, just as others have called on those aggrieved aspirants to seek redress at the appropriate organ of the PDP.