Moves to Stop Ighodalo Thickens, PDP Chiefs Plot His Disqualification

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commenced the screening of its Edo State governorship aspirants, yesterday, there was strong indication of  likely gang-up against the perceived ‘adopted’ governorship aspirant of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The gang-up was alleged to be the mastermind of a serving governor from the South West State, a former governor from a South-south state and a serving South South zonal vice chairman, Chief Dan Orbih from Edo State.

Also, a new twist occurred yesterday as the national secretariat denied releasing venues for a purported primary election that would elect three man delegates that would elect the governorship candidate.

Some newspapers including THISDAY carried advertorials of the venues of the elections.

THISDAY gathered that the plot was heightened following a meeting by other eight governorship aspirants from the PDP in the state, insisting that Ighodalo was not qualified to contest as he allegedly joined the party in June 2023.

The aspirants met at a location on Sunday in Abuja, where they resolved that the adopted candidate should not be allowed to become the governorship candidate of the party in Edo State.

Their grouse was that Ighodalo was not qualified to aspire because he has not met the guidelines for the party to contest because he joined the PDP in June last year.

In a petition by Musa Aliyu, Owan East; Suleiman Braimoh, Etsako west; Victor Ikponwonsa, Ego; and copied to some officials of the PDP, they referred to the amendment in section 9, paragraph 3, of page 68 of the party’s constitution.

The provision states that, “There shall be a minimum of two years membership span for a member to be eligible to stand for election into any public office.”

A copy of the petition was sent to the Chairman of the screening committee, and Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang, who is also the Chairman of the Edo State Gubernatorial election 2024 screening committee.

It read in part: “We, the undersigned, wish to bring to your attention a matter of critical importance regarding the purported waiver planned for the aspirant of the incumbent governor, Asue Ighodalo, in the upcoming Edo State Gubernatorial election of 2024.

“It has come to our notice that the planned waiver directly contravenes the party’s constitution as amended in section 9, paragraph 3, of page 68, which unequivocally states that ‘There shall be a minimum of two years membership span for a member to be eligible to stand for election into any public office.’

“It is evident that the anointed candidate of the governor (Asue Ighodalo) does not meet this requirement as stipulated in the party’s constitution.

“We believe that adhering to the provisions of the party’s constitution is paramount to upholding the principles of fairness and equality within our political processes.

“Granting a waiver that overlooks this vital membership requirement not only undermines the integrity of the democratic process but also goes against the fundamental tenets of our party’s constitution.”

Meanwhile, in  a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the party said “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a publication in a section of the media purported to have been signed by the National Organising Secretary as the list of venue for Edo State PDP 3 Ad-Hoc Delegate Congress for the PDP Governorship Primary election in the State.

“The PDP states in clear terms that it has not released any list of venue for Edo State PDP 3 Ad-Hoc Delegate Congress as claimed in the said publication.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP is a Party of Due Process and will publish the authentic and official list of venue for the PDP 3 Ad-Hoc Delegate Congress through the appropriate channel of communication of the Party.”