The massive defections and resignations of influential members of the Peoples Democratic Party are casting huge doubt on the capacity of the ruling party to retain power in Edo State ahead of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.

Outgoing Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki’s preference of Asue Ighodalo as the PDP flag bearer in the governorship election pitched him against party chieftains, including Mr Philip Shaibu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of the State who was impeached in April 2024.

In the past two months, dozens of party faithful either left to join the All Progressives Congress or resigned outrightly with fingers pointing at Obaseki’s handling of party affairs.

In the past few weeks, a legion of party faithful left the party, citing the power tussle between the governor and founding members of the PDP in the state, particularly, the National Vice Chairman (South-South), Mr Dan Orbih.

Only recently, Shaibu pledged his support for Monday Okpebholo, the APC flag bearer even as he described the PDP candidate as “A Lagos boy,” who knows next to nothing about the politics of the state.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu appointed Orbih as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State; a development seen as a political masterstroke intended to deepen the rift between Orbih and Gov Obaseki.

A PDP leader in Ward 8, Owan East Local Government of Edo State, Tony Ebofuai while leaving the party a fortnight ago fingered Obaseki’s conduct as the reason for his decision to quit.

He said, “I have worked for PDP as I would have my work done but in all, there is nothing to show for it. It is just a ‘monkey dey work, baboon dey chop.’ PDP does not reward hard work considering my sacrifice to see that Obaseki became governor. The first attack we got was on our leader and members of the Legacy Group.”

On his part, a party leader in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Lucky Egbunue who has since quit the PDP blamed the governor’s ‘undemocratic’ handling of state party affairs since his assumption of office for dumping the party.

“My decision for this move (resignation from PDP) is based on the governor’s undemocratic ways of governance since his assumption into office. He has been disunity by fighting stakeholders. Another reason is his unfulfilled promises to the people. All these characteristics will hinder any political party from victory at the poll,’ Egbunue said.

With the election barely a few months away, a leader of the party in Edo Central Senatorial District, Clement Azeigbemi does not see the possibility of the PDP retaining the State, even as he accused Obaseki and Ighodalo of playing the Ostrich, instead of addressing the internal party wranglings.

Azeigbemi said, “The reason for my resignation is as a result of the internal divisions within the PDP, which the party hierarchy has failed to address that led to the mass exodus of members from the ruling party to the opposition party in the State.

“The cause of this massive defection of members from the PDP is largely due to the conquest attitude of the party leadership that lacks inclusivity of members into appointment in the state which the party loyalists worked for. Yet, they were abandoned for new entrants. The old PDP members, which I belong to, have suffered a great deal in the hands of the party leadership and those in government.

“Both the Governor and the party’s candidate have failed to address these issues begging for attention. With this ugly development persisting, it will be very difficult for the party to win the September 21 2024 Governorship election in Edo State.”

For Kamin Asunugie, a former Etsako East Local Government Chairmanship aspirant, the defection of Obaseki to the party’s fold eight years ago has left the PDP factionalised, saying,  “Since the coming of Obaseki and Philip Shaibu into the PDP, that party has not been the same. And rightly so, the party won’t and cannot know peace. When you sow evil, you don’t expect to reap peace.”

He continued, “Obaseki and Shaibu came to the party with an evil mindset dressed in sheep’s looks. As conquerors’ of the party, they came to dictate to the original or foundation members of the PDP how it should be run. The warped mindset was, matter-of-factly, to run out the foundation members and take full charge, plant their stooges in all party structures and positions, and more desperately, in all government offices and outlets.

“The stage was set for them right from the outset when foundation party leaders milked Obaseki and Philip dry to award them the party’s gubernatorial ticket in 2020, intending to run Adams Oshiomhole roughshod in the then main election. They (PDP leaders) had their way and smiled to the banks and dealt a temporary political blow to Adams Oshiomhole but they are now rueing that pyrrhic victory today.”

Shaibu, Orbih are saboteurs – NEC member

Meanwhile, a member of the PDP National Executive Committee, Timothy Osadolor has described the duo of Philip Shaibu and Dan Orbih as saboteurs working against the interest of the party, for which he claimed, they were expelled.

In an exclusive interview with this medium, Osadolor said, “What Edo people see when you mention Philip Shaibu and Dan Orbih is the faces of saboteurs of a working system, a virus that must be resisted. Edo has gone beyond hunger politics. We know what it took us to get to where we are now and Edo man will not trade this to please any self-centred politician.

“The election is going to be so easy for the PDP and her candidates Asue Ighodalo and Osarodion Ogie that you will think it is a coronation ceremony on September 21, 2024, when the Voters will exercise their civic right to choose their leaders.

“Expecting the anti-party activities of these men, for which they are now expelled from the PDP to cause us sleepless nights, is akin to thinking that the gathering of rats will make a cat shiver.

Shaibu was expelled for donations he made to the APC in Edo State while Orbih who was once a member of NEC of the PDP, lost his membership of NEC and the office of National Vice Chairman through his appointment by President Tinubu.

“Our constitution is clear: Once an executive officer of the party takes up any appointment or is elected into an office, it is assumed that he has automatically relinquished his executive position and should be replaced immediately.  Having lost his NEC status, he became an ordinary member of the party that any relevant organ of the party from his ward to the state executive committee could discipline in line with section 58(1) of the PDP constitution.

“Following this, the Edo State Working Committee of the PDP ratified his expulsion and that of Mr Shaibu. They are now non-PDP members, and their absence was well celebrated in the state,” he added.