Edo PDP Splits Over Delegates Congress

The rift arising from the delegate congress of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State took a new twist yesterday as some leaders of the party rejected the outcome of the exercise.

The state publicity secretary of the party, Ogie Vasco, said the process that led to the exercise was faulty and that despite complaints to the National Working Committee (NWC) they did not take the expected action.

Vasco’s position is contrary to the position of the state chairman of the party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, who after last Sunday’s ward delegates congress said it was the most well organised in the country in the history of the party.

But in a shocking counterclaim, the party’s spokesman said that the decision to reject the exercise was after a “cursory overview of the whole charade put up by the state government and certain individuals in the NWC”.

Recall that nine aspirants had faulted the exercise saying it was hijacked.

Vasco, corroborating the claim in a statement, said the leaders noticed that “The agents of Governor Godwin Obaseki, made the stipulated venues inaccessible to the other nine aspirants and their supporters by flooding the venues with armed thugs that were hostile and intimidating, and would only grant access if an individual was going to vote for the pre-selected delegates in favour of the Governor’s aspirant.”

He said no voting was conducted in 92 percent of the stipulated venues.

“The office of the National Organizing Secretary published three conflicting letters on the composition of officers in charge of the congress both at the wards and local government areas.

“The last letter consisted of names of serving government officials in Edo and Delta States. This irregular act had earlier been communicated to the national leadership of the party by the nine aspirants so affected.

“The materials for the conduct of the purported Congress had been deposited with the state governor who is an interested party in this Congress, for days prior to the stipulated date. Where is the fairness the NWC has preached in the various engagements with stakeholders leading to this Congress? These and other infractions observed need to be addressed properly.

“Consequently, the leadership of the party calls on all party faithful to join in the call to right the wrongs of the sham perpetrated this past weekend. And also call for a total cancellation of the exercise,” he said.