The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has finally become a house divided against itself, following the emergence of parallel timetables for party primaries for the forthcoming local government elections in the State.
The development is clear and undeniable evidence of the presence of factions in the State chapter of the party, and may not be unconnected with the crisis rocking the party in the state.
One of the parallel timetables dated 28 March, 2022, was signed by the State Secretary of the party, Hillary Otsu, while the other, dated 31 March, 2022, was signed by Tony Annih (Jnr), said to be the party’s Organising Secretary.
Both documents which carried the PDP letterhead were addressed to the Chairman of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC).
The timetable signed by the party’s Secretary, Otsu, reads in part: “In compliance with these guidelines, we have set aside Saturday 2nd April, 2022, for our party primaries for the Chairmanship and Councillorship elections coming up on April 19, 2022.”
The one for Tony Annih schedules the party primaries for Saturday, April 5th, 2022.
An insider in the party who wished to remain anonymous, opened up to our correspondent that the timetable signed by Mr. Tony Anenih belonged to Governor Godwin Obaseki’s faction, while the other emanated from the faction led by Chief Dan Orbih.
The source lamented that the party’s umbrella might not be able to hold the impending implosion in the party.
Meanwhile, the Acting State Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr. Patrick Ojebobor, has urged all aspirants and other stakeholders in the party to disregard any “illegal sale of forms” for the election.
Ojebobor in a statement earlier on Friday described the purported forms as products of mischief and fraudsters.
“The attention of the State Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, has been drawn to reports of illegal sale of forms for the planned local government election, scheduled to hold on April 19, 2022.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said forms are products of mischief and fraudsters, working to take advantage of our unsuspecting party members and aspirants,” the statement said.
The party advised all stakeholders to adhere to the Notice of Election as released by the State Organizing Secretary, Mr. Tony Anenih Jnr.
It added that it had made reports of the alleged illegal sale of forms to relevant security agencies and requested them to arrest all those involved in the criminal activity.
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