Edo Guber: Orbih Loyalists Back Ighodalo

The governorship campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State got a boost ahead of the September 21, 2024 election as members of Legacy Group have supported the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.

This came shortly after the PDP national leadership sanctioned the national vice chairman (South South) Chief Dan Orbih over alleged anti-party activities.

The Legacy Group is controlled by Orbih and former Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu who are opposed to Ighodalo’s candidacy.

A member of the Legacy Group, who spoke to some newsmen on condition of anonymity, commended the national leadership of the party for sanctioning Orbih, adding that majority of the members of the group are now with Ighodalo.

The Legacy Group member said most of his colleagues cannot continue to subscribe to the personal interest of a few individuals over that of the party and the state.

“We cannot continue to work against our party in a crucial election. Those of our leaders who remain opposed to the party and the candidate are pursuing their personal interest. They are just fighting ego war and we can no longer be part of that.

“The original agreement was to support anybody that emerged as the candidate. When Asue Ighodalo emerged some of them were not happy. They did not give us any cogent reason other than they wanted the position. We agreed that we should make some demands and then support the candidate, but to our surprise despite all entreaties, they still remain adamant in working against the Party. They are just bitter, forgetting that power belongs to God.

“So, we cannot continue to work against our Party. We are members of the PDP and we must remain loyal to our Party. The mark of a good partyman is that despite the issues, you must put aside personal interest and support the interest of your party. As members of Legacy group, if we are indeed true partymen, we must put aside every personal interest and support our candidate” he said.

Last Wednesday, the PDP received thousands of APC and LP in a massive rally at the party’s secretariat in Oyomon-Igueben in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State.

An APC decampee, Chief Osaretin Michael said that many of them decided to join the PDP to support Ighodalo as the best candidate for the election adding that the majority of the people of Edo State are solidly behind him.

Recall that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) last Wednesday suspended Chief Orbih from participating in meetings, activities and programmes of the NWC for alleged anti-Party activities until after the outcome of a six-member NWC committee set up to investigate the matter.