By Obinna Uballa
The lingering crisis in the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a fresh turn, with former governor Godwin Obaseki and the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dan Orbih, locked in a bitter war of words over the party’s leadership and future.
Orbih, speaking on Sunday at a factional congress that produced Nosa Ogieva as chairman, accused Obaseki of destroying the Edo PDP since joining the party in 2020. His comments came barely a week after another congress, held on September 27 by Obaseki’s loyalists, reaffirmed Tony Aziegbemi as chairman.
“Obaseki destroyed our party. He sowed deep-rooted seeds of discord and ruined everything that was good. Today, the party’s umbrella is shattered and torn. We are here to rebuild what he destroyed,” Orbih declared, insisting that the PDP’s current woes stemmed from the former governor’s alleged divisive style.
He dismissed a counter statement from Obaseki’s camp warning members to boycott his congress, describing them as “undertakers praying for the party’s collapse before moving to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).”
But Obaseki’s faction swiftly hit back, describing Orbih’s gathering as a “charade” with no legitimacy.
The faction’s Publicity Secretary, Dan Osa-Ogbegie said, “No official of the National Working Committee supervised or authorised Dan Orbih’s so-called congress. What took place was, at best, a meeting of disgruntled former members seeking political relevance. Many of them no longer belong to the PDP.”
He accused Orbih of doing the bidding of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying: “Instead of working for the PDP, he is playing the role of an errand boy. He rented a hall, recruited former members, and acted out a script written at the APC Secretariat.”
The crisis in Edo PDP has festered since Obaseki defected from the APC in 2020 after falling out with his then political godfather, Adams Oshiomhole. His entry, which initially boosted the PDP’s fortunes, has since widened divisions between old members and his supporters.
