Internal democracy issues within political parties in Edo State are generating considerable discontent among members. This unrest have sparked concerns that more members may either leave their parties or actively oppose their party’s governorship candidates in future elections. At the core of this dissatisfaction is the lack of transparent and democratic processes in selecting candidates.
Emmanuel Odigie, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, has recently highlighted these issues. During an interview on Arise TV, Odigie expressed concerns about the party’s internal democracy and the broader implications for party unity and electoral success. His comments reflect a growing frustration among party members who feel sidelined by opaque candidate selection processes.
In the interview, Odigie posed a critical question about the future actions of Peter Obi, the leader of the Obidient movement. He questioned whether Obi would set aside the principles that formed the movement to campaign for Labour Party politicians, thereby prioritizing party loyalty over the movement's ideology. This question underscores the broader issue of internal party conflicts and the struggle between ideology and party loyalty.
He emphasized that Nigerians, particularly those in Edo State, are closely watching Obi’s next moves. This scrutiny highlights the significance of internal party decisions and their impact on public perception. Odigie pointed out that the remaining 30% of Obidient supporters are eagerly awaiting directives from Obi. The decisions taken by political leaders like Obi could influence whether these supporters choose to follow party directives or vote based on their conscience. This dilemma is a microcosm of the larger issue facing many political parties: balancing party unity with adherence to founding principles.
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Hear him: "Will Peter Obi now put aside the ideology that formed the Obidient movement, and say party in supreme and come and campaign for the Labour Party politician?. Nigerians are watching, Edo people are waiting. The 30% Obidients left are keenly waiting for his directives. They are all waiting for what Obi will do. Will Obi tell the Obidients, go and vote your conscience or will he tell them that party is supreme. Will Obi abide by the principles that formed the Obidient movement?."