Edo PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike’s Loyalists Elect Parallel Executive Committee

The lingering crisis within the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new twist on Sunday as the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike — known as the Legacy Group — elected a new state working committee led by Barrister Nosa Ogieva.

Ogieva emerged alongside 13 other executive members during the party’s 2025 State Congress held in Benin City.

The new leadership pledged to reunite aggrieved members and restore the PDP’s dominance in Edo politics. Out of the 14 positions filled, 11 candidates were returned unopposed, while Tony Aziegbemi, Henry Tenebe, and Victor Enoghama contested for the positions of State Chairman, Secretary, and Deputy State Chairman, respectively.

A total of 576 delegates drawn from the 192 wards across the state participated in the congress.

In his acceptance speech, Ogieva described the emergence of the new executive as “the beginning of a new era” for the PDP in Edo State.

“We will not betray the trust of party members. Unity and loyalty remain the foundation of our great party, and under our watch, the PDP in Edo will be rebuilt to win elections again,” he said.

Earlier, leader of the Legacy Group and party chieftain, Chief Dan Orbih, accused former Governor Godwin Obaseki of fueling the lingering internal crisis, alleging that he had fallen out with virtually every stakeholder he met in the party.

Orbih said the PDP’s poor performance in recent by-elections reflected its declining popularity under the current leadership, urging delegates to elect capable leaders who could revive the party and restore its influence in the state.