Barely three months and three weeks to the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Clement Aziegbemi, the younger brother of the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, has resigned from the party.
InfoStride News reports that Abass Momoh Jega, a former lawmaker who represented the Etsako East constituency in the State House of Assembly, has also left the party.
Jega, a former commissioner for Works and Utilities, and commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Development during Governor Oserhiemen Osunbor’s tenure, was a prominent leader in the Etsako East Local Government Area.
Other notable PDP members who resigned alongside the duo include Monday Ihama, former Chairman of Ovia South West Local Government Area Council; Kemi Aimufua, former PDP State Secretary and former Chairperson of Ovia South West; and A. Adeche, former youth leader of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
In their resignation letters addressed to various party leaders, including ward chairmen, local government chairmen, senatorial leaders, and the state chairman, the resignees cited internal division and disunity within the party as reasons for their departure.
Clement Aziegbemi, in his letter dated May 30, 2024, attributed his resignation to the persistent crisis within the party, which he claimed was exacerbated by the willingness of Ighodalo to work with new allies rather than those who supported his candidacy.
Aziegbemi, who also served as a spokesperson for the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, lamented the leadership’s lack of inclusivity and disregard for loyal party members.
“The old PDP members, to whom I belong, have suffered a great deal at the hands of the party leadership and those in government.
Both the governor and the party’s candidate have failed to address these issues, begging for attention,” Aziegbemi stated.
“If this ugly development continues, it will be extremely difficult for the party to win any local government seats in Edo State’s September 21, 2024, governorship election.”
Aziegbemi also criticized the perceived hijacking of the PDP governorship candidate by political opportunists and announced his resignation from all party responsibilities and his position as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.
Similarly, Abass Momoh Jega attributed his resignation to deceit and a lack of respect within the party.
He stated, “I write to inform you that after extensive consultation with my family, friends, followers, and constituents, I have come to the irrevocable decision that all my followers and I have to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party immediately.”
Jega recalled Governor Obaseki’s unfulfilled promise to construct a road in Ward 6, Imiekuri, Okpella, and expressed disappointment in the party’s current leadership.
InfoStride News recalls that several PDP chieftains and members have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Among them are Felix Akhabue, former commissioner and chairman of Esan West local government; Madam Aisosa Amadasun, former state chairman of APC, PDP, and candidate for the Oredo West constituency in the 2023 election; and Frank Okiye, former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, and former executive chairman of 18 local government areas.
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