The lingering leadership crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened on Wednesday as the Legacy Coalition group led by the National Vice Chairman, South-South, Chief Dan Orbih, boycotted the State Executive Committee (SEC) called by the party.
The Legacy Coalition group is a faction of the old PDP loyal to Orbih and some party members that defected with Governor Godwin Obaseki from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2020.
In a statement endorsed by the State Secretary of the party, Hilary Otsu, dated November 28, 2023, the faction states: “Dear Edo PDP Leaders, it has come to my notice that a certain notice of meeting has been sent to Leaders of our Party.
“Kindly note that the Constitution empowers ONLY the Secretary of the Party to call meetings.
“This purported notice, carrying an unverifiable printed signature, is being circulated by mischief-makers who intend to cause confusion and further divide the Party. I have not abdicated my responsibility to the party, so I advise you to ignore this invite as the Party will not take kindly to such acts of sabotage going forward.”
Reacting to the development, the PDP, in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Assistant Secretary, Luckson Ogedegbe, said the party had commenced the registration of new members on Thursday and directed the State Working Committee to drive the timetable for the primary election.
The statement added that the decision was taken at a meeting of party leaders all over the state, which had 89 out of the 120 expected.
It further stated that key decisions were taken during exhaustive deliberations on issues affecting the party in the state.
The statement reads: “The SEC mandated the SWC to drive the timetable of the coming governorship primary as released by the NWC.
“The SEC mandated all ward chairmen to open the party registers in their various wards and commence the registration of new members starting 30th November 2023.
“The SEC mandated the SWC to direct any ward where registration does not start by Friday, 1st December, 2023, to open a new register.
“The SEC directed that all ward registers must be submitted to the State Secretariat at 59 Airport Road, Benin, not later than the 6th of December 2023, for onward submission to the National Headquarters, Abuja.
“The SEC directed that all activities of the party must be carried out in the various ward party secretariats.
“The SEC directed the SWC to set up committees in the LGAs and wards to monitor the party registration exercise,” he added.