PRP Postpones Edo State Congress Indefinitely Amid Internal Dispute

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in Edo State has postponed its state congress indefinitely following disagreements among members over the party’s voters’ register.

The crisis, which has reportedly factionalised the party into two groups, was said to have stemmed from disagreements over the mode of conducting the congress.

While some members advocated for a direct congress, others supported an indirect process.

The congress, initially scheduled to commence at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, was delayed until about 2:00 p.m. as party members failed to reach a consensus on the modalities for the exercise.

Chairman of the Electoral Committee for the congress, Yakubu Paul, who announced the postponement, said the decision was taken after consultations with the party’s National Secretariat.

“I have just spoken with the National Secretariat and received approval to postpone this congress to enable us to prepare for the reschedule. We were supposed to have held our ward and local government congresses, after which the chairmen and secretaries that emerged would serve as delegates to vote at the state congress, but this was not done,” he said.

Members of a faction reportedly loyal to the incumbent state chairman, Greg Igbinomwanya, insisted that only 344 individuals listed in the party’s register should be eligible to vote. However, those aligned with Yakubu Paul rejected the position, alleging manipulation of the register.

Spokesperson for the aggrieved members, Adams Erunmwunse, accused the state leadership of losing credibility and alleged that the chairman was attempting to influence the process to secure a return to office.

“Greg never wanted this congress to hold because his tenure ended in 2024; hence he came up with a retrogressive register of just 344 members,” he said.

When contacted, Igbinomwanya dismissed the allegations, maintaining that the register in question was authentic.

He further alleged that some individuals were sponsored to obtain membership cards on the morning of the congress solely to participate in the exercise, but were unsuccessful.