Connect with us

Politics

Edo governorship poll: Defection of Igbinedion’s daughter rattles PDP

Published

3 months ago

on

Spread the love

 

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Less than 48 hours after the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed confidence that the party’s governorship campaign in Edo State was gathering momentum, the exit of former federal lawmaker, Omosede Igbinedion, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, has rattled PDP.

On Sunday, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, said the party’s candidate for the September 21 governorship election ‘’is coasting home to victory and that his APC opponent is nowhere to be found in the electoral contest.’’

However, according to sources close to the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, there is now major cause for concern because the unexpected exit of Omosede, daughter of the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Sir Gbriel Igbinedion, who once represented Ovia Federal Constituency, also implies a shift by the influential Igbinedion family, which once produced a governor for Edo State, to support Monday Okpebholo, APC’s governorship candidate.

“Many of our (PDP) people felt very surprised and displeased to see Omosede at APC’s launch of its Edo South Senatorial Zone governorship campaign rally at Ekehuan campus of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) on Tuesday. The lingering issues the governor has with the palace (of Oba of Benin), losing the support of the Igbinedion family, add to PDP’s challenges, but we still hope our governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo’s capacity can win over voters in Edo State,” the sources said.

A copy of Igbinedion’s letter of resignation from the PDP dated August 11, 2024 was forwarded to the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Ilyas Damagum and the PDP National Working Committee in Abuja.

She addressed the letter to Mr. Lucky Edosomwan, PDP chairman in Okada West Ward 1 in Ovia North East Local Government, whom some party members considered as a staunch supporter of Omosede, whose father, Chief Igbinedion, commands great influence in the area and beyond.

Omosede’s letter was also copied to the PDP Chairman in Ovia North-East Local Government, Chairman of PDP in Edo State and PDP Working Committee in Edo State.

Along with embattled Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shuaibu, Omosede, who represented her constituency as a member of the House of Representatives between 2015 and 2019, was one of the disappointed PDP governorship aspirants, who protested the allegedly skewed conduct of the ward and local government delegates’ elections that preceded the party’s governorship primary.

In her resignation letter, she attributed her exit from PDP to lack of equity, fairness, justice, and the marginalisation of long-standing party members, saying it was curious that founding members, who Governor Obaseki met in the party, were fenced off from the governorship ticket and deputy governorship positions.

She said: “It was a pleasure to have been elected to the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019 on the platform of the PDP, to represent the good people of Ovia North-East and Ovia South-West federal constituencies.

“Based on the principles of equity, fairness and justice, which I hold dearly and which no longer prevail within our party in the state, coupled with the marginalisation of the aboriginal PDP members, who have worked assiduously to sustain this party before its infiltration, despite complaints to the state and national levels, I no longer have the drive, conviction, sentiment and commitment towards a party that I once called my own.

“There is no indigenous PDP member on the Edo governorship ballot today, either as the standard-bearer or running mate, which raises the question: ‘Who exactly are we working for?’

“My overriding interest and commitment to the people of Ovia, whom I hold so dearly and who have always stood by me, supersede my personal interest, as well as any other interest.

“It is on this note that I have decided to tender my resignation from the PDP, effective from today, August 11, 2024.”

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

NONSONKWA CRIES OUT FOR JUSTICE…

Published

11 hours ago

on

November 12, 2024

By

NONSONKWA CRIES OUT FOR JUSTICE...
Spread the love

 

Ekwutosblog gathered that his case came up at the magistrate court 1 Owerri Imo State today, but the court did not sit!! The chief clerk of the Court, Mr Lucky told the lawyers that the magistrate went for a seminar in Abuja, hence the unavoidable absence. The matter was adjourned till 19th November 2024, for report of the D.P.P.

Meanwhile, the DPP did not file any information or charge against Theodore Chinonso Uba even till today!!!

When interviewed, one of his legal team Barr Charles Mgbekonye, told Press the that the matter had been adjourned to 19th November. 2024,

Regards to his bail application, Barr Charles Mgbekonye said his bail application is coming up on 20th November, 2024 at the high court Owerri and the application for baill is before his Lordship, Justice Innodimo and he believes that justice will be served as the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man.

Theodore Chinonso Uba Nonsonkwa thanks ndi Imo for the way thousands of people both mothers, fathers, youths , children all came out today 12th November 2024 and showed him love and solidarity…

He also urged Ndi Imo to pray for him as he hopes that on 20th November, when the high court will hear his bail application, God will manifest and justice will be served.

He is also appealing to his supporters, fans, friends, family, wellwishers, ndi Imo and umu igbo at large to also come and show him love and support on that 20th November, 2024…

Once again, a very big thank you to everyone that showed up today despite their busy schedules…
May chukwuokike abiama bless you all!!!!
Kindly follow #StateofImo for verified News and Current Affairs in addition to insightful contents that inform, inspire, educate and entertain you always.

Continue Reading

Politics

Obaseki out as Okpebholo is sworn-in as governor of Edo state

Published

16 hours ago

on

November 12, 2024

By

Obaseki out as Okpebholo is sworn-in as governor of Edo state
Spread the love

 

Senator Monday Okpebholo has been sworn in as the sixth civilian governor of Edo State since the creation of the state on August 27, 1991. The swearing-in ceremony took place on Tuesday, November 12, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the state capital, two months after the All Progressives Congress (APC) clinched the ticket to the Dennis Osadebay House in a keenly contested election.

Okpebholo took his oath of office alongside his running mate Dennis Idahosa.

Present at the swearing-in ceremony were VP Kashim Shettima, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, Deputy Speaker House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Governor Hope Uzodinma, Governor Dapo Abiodun, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and others.

Continue Reading

Politics

“No Valid Reason For Sacking Me As Minister”– Gwarzo Reveals What Tinubu Told Him

Published

17 hours ago

on

November 12, 2024

By

“No Valid Reason For Sacking Me As Minister”– Gwarzo Reveals What Tinubu Told Him
Spread the love

 

Ekwutosblog has gathered that the immediate former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo, has revealed that his dismissal by President Bola Tinubu was politically motivated rather than due to any shortcomings in his ministerial performance.

The former minister added that the President should have chosen the 2023 All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, Nasiru Gawuna, as his replacement.

This follows the appointment of Yusuf Ata as the new minister.

In a State House release on October 23, 2024, Tinubu dismissed Gwarzo along with four others, including the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John; Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman; and the Minister of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim.

However, in an interview with BBC Hausa on Saturday, November 9, 2024, Gwarzo stated, “I was surprised because I wasn’t found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance. And I was minister of state, with the senior minister overseeing a large portion of the ministry’s activities.

“Before the announcement, the President had informed me of his decision.

“He said Kano North was overloaded with political officers, hence the need to strike a balance. We gave our advice, but it was ignored. From there, I began to suspect that certain individuals were behind this because, to me, that wasn’t a valid reason.”

The former minister remarked that Gawuna, as the party’s leader in Kano Central, should be considered for the ministerial position.

“If the ministerial slot is indeed meant for Kano Central, we have our 2023 governorship candidate, who is also our leader in Kano Central. Why not consider giving him the position?

“Gawuna should be offered the role first, unless he declines, in which case it could be given to someone else.

“All other candidates from Plateau and Zamfara states who contested for the governorships were appointed to positions,” Gwarzo added.

#ekwutosblog

Continue Reading

Trending