The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected an alleged plot by the Godwin Obaseki-led government to dissolve its executives.
In a letter co-signed by its chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, and secretary-general, Hillary Otsu, addressed to national chairman, Uche Secondus, the excos, in strong terms, frowned at a purported state leaders meeting held at the Edo Government House on Saturday where it was allegedly resolved that the leadership of the party at all levels be dissolved.
Recall that the PDP adopted Obaseki as candidate in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state having been disqualified to seek a second term by his former party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Sources in the party claim that Obaseki had refused to constitute his cabinet, using the composition to negotiate for the dissolution of the PDP’s executive councils at all levels in the state so as to accommodate those who decamped from the APC with him to join his new party, the PDP.
But in reaction after over five hours of deliberation, the party said “The expanded State Working Committee and local government chairmen of the Edo State PDP reject in its entirety, the proposal by the above-mentioned meeting to dissolve the legitimately elected executive committee members of the PDP at the ward, local government and state levels.”
They also alleged that the said meeting in government was called to ambush the state chairman of the party who was said to be in the minority with only three leaders of the party as against 10 who came with Governor Obaseki.
“We hereby reiterate to the National Executive Committee of our party that the issue of dissolution of executive committees in Edo State is ‘subjudice’ and it will be an act of contempt of court to revisit it by the party.
“The genesis of this looming crisis results from the acquiescence of the National Working Committee members who negotiated Godwin Obaseki’s movement to PDP, to reach a verbal or written agreement on the integration of the new members vis-a-vis the sharing of appointments, after the elections had been won”, the letter stated.
“We, therefore, condemn Gov Obaseki’s re-appointment of his former SSG without any consideration for the legacy PDP he joined. To this end, they have consistently sung a tune of “harmonization” ever since Obaseki was sworn in, knowing that he now has the “yam and the knife”. We have resolved strongly that if any harmonisation must take place, it must start from the Governor’s office, where his deputy governor should resign and a deputy nominated from the old PDP is sworn in.
This can be a springboard for broad harmonisation across the state party organs,” the PDP leadership maintained.
They alleged that Governor Obaseki was being misled by three categories of people in the party which they identified as aspirants for 2023 and 2024 elections, members of the party who lost during the party’s congresses, and godfathers that came with the governor from the APC to the PDP, who they said have refused to register with the party in their wards.
