A flurry of last minute petitions by 9 ‘Legacy Coalition’ governorship aspirants has failed to stop the PDP ad hoc delegate congresses currently taking place across the 192 wards in Edo State.
There were fears that Gov, Makinde’s shock resignation as Chairman of the Electoral Committee would derail the congresses late last night; but the National Working Committee (NWC) quickly resolved the issue with the reconstitution of a new electoral committee headed by Gov. Peter Mba of Enugu State.
The National Organizing Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Umar Bature also responded to Gov. Makinde in a curt letter, dismissing Gov. Makinde’s allegations that the congresses were being improperly constituted and reminding Makinde that not only did the Party abide by the letters of the law in organizing the congresses; all aspirants will be provided with the opportunity to appeal the outcome of the process.
In Edo state, PDP members turned out in high numbers to pick their delegates; a consequence of the high interest voters have taken in the high profile Edo Governorship race. Across the wards too, peace was maintained by large contingents of police officers and members of the Edo Security Network who were very conspicuous at the venues.
Congresses have been completed in parts of Edo State including Ikpoba Okha, the local government with the highest number of registered voters in Edo State.
The actions of the Chief Dan Orbih led Legacy Coalition of aspirants – Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama, Chief Anslem Ojezua, the deputy governor Comrade Philip Shaibu, Omosede Igbinedion, Hon. Felix Akhabue and four others – are reminiscent of the actions taken by the same Legacy group in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections where the PDP congresses and primaries in Edo State were contested and litigated up to the Supreme Court, with Gov. Obaseki’s group eventually emerging victorious.
