The ongoing crisis within the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) escalated on Wednesday as the party announced the expulsion of key figures Dan Orbih, Hon. Philip Shaibu, and Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.
The announcement was made by the Anthony Aziegbemi-led state executives, citing anti-party activities as the reason for the expulsions.
Orbih, the National Vice Chairman South-South, Shaibu, the former deputy governor of the state, and Ogbeide-Ihama, a two-term House of Representatives member, were targeted in this latest move.
The State Publicity Secretary, Ogie Vasco, released a statement confirming the expulsion.
He stated that the decision was reached during a meeting attended by nine members of the State Working Committee (SWC) at the party’s secretariat on Airport Road, Benin City.
“The SWC extensively deliberated on the issue and resolved to expel with immediate effect Chief Dan Orbih, National Vice Chairman South-South, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, and upheld the expulsion of Hon. Ogbeide-Ihama from Ward 2, Oredo Local Government Area,” Vasco said.
Reacting to the expulsion, Chief Dan Orbih dismissed the action as the work of “idle persons and busybodies.”
In a telephone interview, he claimed that the state leadership lacked the authority to suspend a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) and described their actions as unconstitutional.
“When a group of persons who are idle and have nothing to do sit down to make pronouncements that are unconstitutional, it only shows that they are ignorant of the constitution of the party.
They don’t have any power to even suspend or expel anybody without strictly following the provisions of the party’s constitution,” Orbih stated.
In a related development, the Oredo Local Government chapter of the PDP disowned the purported expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama.
Local government chairman Mr. Oduwa Igbinosun called the expulsion by Ward 2 leaders, led by Lawrence Aguebor, “null and void,” asserting that Aguebor lacked the authority to make such decisions.
“The local government exco’s attention was drawn to the purported expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama by a faceless group led by one Lawrence Aguebor, which prompted the exco to set the record straight.
The said Lawrence is an ex-official of the ward and lacks the authority to suspend or expel anyone,” Igbinosun declared.
Supporting this stance, Mr. Jesuobo Obadigie, the secretary of PDP Ward 2, confirmed that no suspension or expulsion of Ogbeide-Ihama had been conducted by the ward executives.
Ward chairman Prince Elemah also denied signing any document against the former National Assembly member, affirming Ogbeide-Ihama’s status as a leader and bona fide member of the party.
In a unanimous decision, the 12 members of the ward exco declared that Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama remains a prominent and formidable leader of the party, assuring continued support for him within Ward 2.
As the crisis unfolds, all eyes are on the PDP’s ability to unite ahead of the September governorship elections, amid calls for an end to divisive actions within the party.
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