Edo 2024: PDP conducts ward congresses to elect delegates for primary  By Elvis Omoregie, Benin 

Edo 2024: PDP conducts ward congresses to elect delegates for primary
By Elvis Omoregie, Benin

Ahead of the governorship primary election slated for February 22, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Edo State Chapter conducted its delegates congress yesterday to elect three people from the ward that will participate in the primary election.

The exercise was a success despite the stepping down of the chairman of the three-man committee headed by the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, as the governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, who is said to be the deputy chairman, was present in the state to conduct the primary, where he commended the large turnout of members of the party.

Speaking to party faithful at the George Idah Primary School in Benin City, which is the collation center for Ward 2, he said, “This is a democracy where our people come to exercise their franchise; we appreciate this turnout; our party is known for its principles, which are fairness, equity, and justice. I wish you to all conduct yourselves properly as we hold this election.”

In Ward 7 at Ugbekun Primary School in Ikpoba-Okha local government, Dr. Major Itemowe led others to conduct the exercise, while in Oluku Ward, Hon. Kunle Koya from Lagos State conducted the exercise.

Speaking to journalists in his Ward 4 Collation Centre, Idia College, Governor Obaseki said the crisis in the party was being overhyped and that it would not affect the outcome of the governorship election.

According to him, “You can see from the crowd here that it is a lot of success, a huge turnout. We had over 600 people come out to participate here, and 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.”

On the resignation of Makinde, Obaseki said, “Unfortunately, Makinde withdrew. There are three governors, and he is only one of them, so withdrawing does not remove the credibility of the process. It is not just the process, and what makes a process credible is the quality of the participation, as you can see for yourself. So it is unfortunate that Governor Makinde had to take such a decision, but I hope that all our efforts to continue to unify the party and pacify all players will continue. We are not deterred at all; we are going to make sure that the PDP plays its role in the politics of this country.”

Speaking on the non-participation of members of the Legacy Coalition of the PDP, he said, “You cannot have a hundred percent; clearly, you can see the crowd here. When we were in the 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.

“The crisis is hyped; it is not as fundamental as it is made to look on the 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.”

The nine aspirants, in their letter to the Acting National Chairman and copied to the National Vice Chairman South-South of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, protested the process and compositions of those to conduct the delegates election.

The petition was signed by Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, Rt. Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Anselm U. Ojezua, Hon. Felix Akhabue, Amb. Martin Uhomoibhi, Hafia Hadizat Umoru, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, Dr. Earl Osaro Onaiwu, and Barr. Arthur Esene