According to Vanguard, The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the Legacy Group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are headed for a showdown ahead of the September 21 governorship election. The Legacy Group, led by Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman, South-South, claims to be the core of the party and feels marginalized and unrewarded since Obaseki's re-election in 2020.
Obaseki accused the group of being a mole in the party and collecting money from the opposition to destabilize the PDP. He warned them to steer clear of the party, boasting that without the group, PDP would still be victorious in the election and deliver Dr. Asue Ighodalo as the next governor.
The Legacy Group has swelled in recent times with politicians who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, including Charles Idahosa, Philip Shaubu, and Kabiru Adjoto, who feel neglected and abandoned. The group has held meetings in the three senatorial districts, declaring they would not work for the party.
Reacting to Obaseki's comments, the Legacy Media Team challenged him to name the parties that gave Legacy leaders money, the names of the leaders, and how much they were given. They accused Obaseki of ingratitude towards his benefactors and warned that time would tell if his boasts would come to pass.
A former State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Nosa Adams, also corroborated that Obaseki's poor handling of party affairs would affect the party's chances in the election. The PDP Campaign Council's Spokesperson, Rev Olu Martins, said plans are underway to appease aggrieved members, but defection is part of elections in Nigeria, and PDP is also receiving high-profile defectors from the APC.
Martins insisted that PDP is better prepared than APC to win the election, citing the party's cohesive structure and campaign preparations. The Legacy Group's disenchantment and Obaseki's accusations have heightened tensions within the PDP ahead of the election.