According to the report from the Vanguard, The Vice Chairman South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dan Orbih; former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu; former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Kabiru Adjoto, along with other key figures and supporters of the party in Edo North senatorial district, expressed their dissatisfaction with Governor Godwin Obaseki's approach to the upcoming September 21 Edo governorship election.
The gathering took place during a meeting of the Legacy Group of the PDP at Orbih’s residence in Ogbona, Etsako Central Local Government Area. During this meeting, Orbih publicly disowned his affiliation with the PDP campaign council for the election.
In their remarks, they criticized the current PDP leadership under Governor Obaseki and his favored candidate, Asue Ighodalo, asserting that they believe this leadership is inadequate to steer Edo in the right direction. The PDP Legacy Group, they stated, intends to support a candidate who truly represents the interests of the people of the state.
Commenting on the situation, Deputy Governor Marvellous Omobayo emphasized that his Akoko-Edo Local Government Area is committed to delivering at least 80 percent of its votes to the PDP.
Orbih particularly highlighted the foundational principles of the PDP, emphasizing unity, fairness, justice, and equity as core values of the party. He pointed out that Governor Obaseki had joined the party in 2020 but had since neglected the group that had diligently worked and voted for his re-election.
In his statement, Orbih remarked, "I am not part of the PDP campaign council. In 2020, we in Edo North supported Governor Godwin Obaseki's election and re-election. I, Dan Orbih, collaborated with Governor Obaseki to secure his victory. However, the current state of affairs is concerning. As we gear up for the upcoming election, we are committed to ensuring that the people of Edo are well-informed that this election is pivotal for the state's future."
He continued, "I want to emphasize to the PDP that there are underlying issues within the Edo State PDP. I hereby renounce my membership in the PDP Edo campaign council. The path laid out by Obaseki and his chosen candidate is not the appropriate direction forward."