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By Oscar Okhifo
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, described as the authentic PDP and led by Chief Dan Orbih, the National Vice Chairman, South-South of the party, on Sunday elected its state working committee headed by Barr. Nosa Ogieva.
Ogieva and 13 other members of the Edo PDP Executive, who were sworn in at the end of the party’s 2025 State Congress in Benin City, pledged to reunite members of the party and restore its electoral strength in the state.
While 11 members of the new executive were returned unopposed, Tony Aziegbemi, Henry Tenebe and Victor Enoghama were announced to have contested for the Chairmanship, Secretary, and Deputy State Chairmanship positions respectively.
A total of 576 delegates from the 192 wards participated in the congress.
In his acceptance speech, the new State Chairman, Barr. Nosa Ogieva, said their emergence marked a new chapter for Edo PDP. He promised not to betray the trust of members, vowing to reposition and rebrand the party.
Ogieva appealed for unity among members, describing loyalty as the foundation of the PDP.
Earlier in his remarks, Chief Dan Orbih blamed former Governor Godwin Obaseki for the lingering crisis in the party, alleging that the governor’s actions fractured the unity of Edo PDP.
“Obaseki destroyed our party. He sowed deep-rooted seeds of discord. He sinned against the party, the people, and the state,” Orbih said.
He added that the poor performance of the PDP in recent by-elections reflected Obaseki’s unpopularity and the damage done to the party’s structure.
Orbih urged delegates to elect leaders with capacity and integrity, cautioning against those who might “sell out” or deny members their rights.
“There is no doubt PDP is going through a leadership crisis, both at the national and state levels. For the first time in our history, elected governors, senators, and members are leaving the party every day due to failed leadership,” he said.
He further accused Obaseki of fighting everyone within the PDP, leaving the party “torn and weakened.”
“What used to unite us as a family has been destroyed. We are here today to rebuild our party,” Orbih added.
He also described the other PDP faction as “undertakers” allegedly working towards the collapse of the party to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The PDP, both at the national and state levels, has been riddled with unending internal crises, and Edo is no exception.
With divisions spreading across its structures, many observers have written off the party as a serious challenger to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the emerging African Democratic Congress (ADC).
It remains to be seen whether key stakeholders will set aside personal ambitions in the interest of rebuilding the party.