The national leadership of the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has suspended its national vice chairman (South-South) Chief Dan Orbih, from participating in all meetings, activities and programs of the party pending the conclusion of investigation into alleged anti-party activities against him.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) said it took the decision following complaints about Orbih’s activities concerning the upcoming September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State.
The party also set up a six-member committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the complaints against Orbih pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the party.
Recall that the Edo State PDP Youth League (EPYL) on Monday asked the NWC of PDP to immediately summon and sanction Orbih for alleged anti-party conduct.
The group said Orbih should be sanctioned for jubilating over what it called the erroneous media report that the Federal High Court in Abuja annulled the primary election that produced the PDP governorship candidate in the September 21, 2024 Edo State election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
Orbih, who hails from Edo State, had distanced himself from the party’s governorship campaign in the state. The embattled national vice chairman had fallen out with the State governor, Godwin Obaseki, shortly after he (Obaseki) won a second term in 2016, few months after he joined PDP after dumping All Progressives Congress (APC).
LEADERSHIP recall that Orbih also worked against the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar, by pitching his tent with the then governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to support the then All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
A statement by the PDP national publicity secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, on Wednesday, said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 588th meeting today, Wednesday, July 10, 2024 considered all issues, including complaints on the activities of the National Vice Chairman (South South) Chief Dan Orbih concerning the September 21, 2024 Governorship election in Edo State.
“The NWC at the meeting unanimously condemned the embarrassing actions and utterances of Chief Dan Orbih relating to the Edo State Governorship Primary Election of our great Party which actions and utterances are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and the demand of his office as a national officer of the Party.
“Consequently, the NWC has set up a six-member committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman (South) Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the issue pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the Party.
“In the meantime, the NWC forthwith suspends Chief Dan Orbih from participating in all meetings, activities and programs of the NWC pending the conclusion of investigation by the Committee.
“The NWC acknowledges the support and solidarity of the overwhelming majority of the people of Edo State who are rallying with our Party and Candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, whose vision is in tandem with the Will and aspiration of the people for continued massive development of the State on the platform of the PDP.
“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in Edo State to remain united, focused and continue to work hard for the victory of our Party and Candidate in the September 21, 2024 Governorship election in Edo State.”
