EDO PDP CRISIS: SOME NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES EYEING LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMANSHIP SEAT?

It is no longer news that all is not well with the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State Chapter in particular. 
This is as a result of the political wits being displayed by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the South South Vice Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih to gain control of the soul of the Party (PDP) in Edo State. 

The inability of the leadership of the Party to find soft landing for  both factions have put the Party in a situation where it can be said that it has no candidates for now in Edo State for any of the elective offices from the State to the National Assembly.

Chief Dan Orbih has the Portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as his hold to having candidates while Mr. Governor has the Certificate of Return issued to his candidates by the Party as his belt for having candidates. 
            Gov. Godwin Obaseki,
                    Edo State

The Judiciary did not help matters with their judgements. Apart from the clear cut judgement of the Federal High Court ordering INEC to accept the candidates of Chief Dan Orbih, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court ruled that it is the duty of the Political Party to determine who are its candidates. This judgements have further put the Party in disarray.
.             Chief Dan Osi Orbih,
         PDP Vice Chairman, South South 
             
Though the candidates of both factions are busy with their campaigns, a leader of the Party (PDP)  who would not want his name in print said that the campaigns by the candidates are  not only face saving, it is also geared towards deceiving  the electorates that they are the genuine candidates.

The battle among the factions have been tensed. But some developments within the Party have put some of the candidates especially on the side of the Governor in a fix. They got a major setback recently when their Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar came to Edo State for Rally and the normal ritual of introducing the candidates and the party flag handed over to them as a symbol of recognition as  candidates were not done. This action of the leadership of the Party sent a bad signal to them and since then, the candidates are said to be looking for alternatives in case their hope of contesting the National  Assembly election is dashed and Chief Orbih's candidates sailed through.

Another action that has sent cold waves to their spine was said to be the directive by their Presidential Candidate that the names in the INEC Portal  which happened to be Chief Dan Orbih's candidates be included in the Presidential Campaign Council of the Party (PDP). This would have been said to be the last straw that broke the camel's back, but their consolation is the alleged case still pending in the Court. Inspite of this case, the candidates especially those for the House of Representatives are not ready to lose out totally. There are rumours that they are putting Plan B in place and that is to contest the Chairmanship positions at the Local Government Council. It is alleged that that is the major reason that the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki shifted the Local Government election till May 2023. 
One of the leaders of the Party in Edo Central Senatorial District said that those campaigning now to be Local Government Chairmen are fronting for some of the candidates claiming to be candidates for the National Assembly elections.

Whether the Governor's candidates branding their posters and mounting Bill Boards all over Edo State will stoop low to pick Chairmanship ticket is a matter of time. 
Edo people are anxiously waiting for the Local Government election and what plays out then will be for them judge.


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