Gov Obaseki’s move to hijack Edo PDP rocks party

Moves by the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, to take hold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in the state are causing a crisis in the state chapter of the party.

Obaseki had decamped to the PDP after he was stopped from seeking re-election by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP in Edo State has been embroiled in a crisis over the governor’s alleged attempt to take over the party structure in the state.

However, the crisis may have taken a new twist following the suspension of some leaders of the party in the state, including the National Vice Chairman (South-South) Chief Dan Orbih.

Orbih, a former chairman of PDP in Edo State, was reportedly suspended for alleged anti-party activities by the party leadership in Edo North Senatorial District after passing a vote of “no confidence” on him.

The Vice-Chairman of PDP in Edo North local government area of the state, Segun Saiki, and five others were also suspended from the party.

The PDP Chairman in Oredo Ward 4, Friday Enaruna Ihama, was also suspended for alleged anti-party activities and replaced with Prince Courage Uyi Ogiefa.

READ ALSO: Obaseki makes U-turn, begs PDP SWC members over crisis

Oredo Ward 4 is the ward of Governor Obaseki.

The PDP Assistant Financial Secretary in the state, Mr. Aroko Thomas, said the chairman was suspended for alleged anti-party activities during last year’s governorship election in the state.

He said Ihama had since deployed different tactics to halt the party’s progress in the ward.

Thomas alleged that the suspended chairman was involved in a N2.5 million deal with APC during the election.

He said: “Ihama has been frustrating the progress of the party in Ward 4. He has been frustrating the e-registration exercise of the party in the ward and failing to provide information about the process of e-registration. He also refused to register any new member in the ward despite the drive for membership.”

According to him, the ward chairman also failed to convene a meeting for about one year in a deliberate effort to destroy the PDP in the governor’s ward.

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