Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in Edo State have dropped the option of zoning in the selection of its 2024 governorship candidate it emerged at the weekend.
The agreement to drop zoning was reached at a meeting of the stakeholders from Edo State with the PDP National Working Committee, NWC on Thursday.
The Stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, was presided over by the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Damagun also resolved that the State Party Chairman, Mr Tony Aiziegbemi should have no role in the arrangement and organization of the forthcoming congress to elect delegates and the primary election.
The NWC took the decision on Aziegbemi after listening to petitions on his alleged role in marketing Mr Asue Ighodalo who is believed to be the preferred choice of Governor Godwin Obaseki as his successor.
The deputy governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu who according to sources canvassed the same position was said to have cited the trending video where Aziegbemi was seen canvassing Edo Central as Obaseki’s successor.
Each of the aspirants were given the opportunity to address the leaders of the party. All the speakers that spoke demanded for free, fair and transparent primary by PDP and canvassed for zoning to be dropped in choosing the Edo governorship candidate.
See more
Some of the aspirants from Edo Central were also reported to be angry over the alleged support that Governor Obaseki was reported to be giving Asue at their expense.
They unequivocally said they didn’t want a stranger in PDP but that they would want to take their party back and rebuild it after the exit of Obaseki.
Mr. Asue Ighodalo and Hon Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama also addressed the stakeholders.
In his remark, Ighodalo said he was in agreement with “everything that was said at the meeting”, and promised to abide with it.
Hon Ogbeide-Ihama on the other hand, reminded the NWC members of the role they played in the agreement that brought incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki as PDP candidate in 2020 and pleaded with them to abide by that agreement as permanent solution to the crisis facing the party in Edo State.
The leaders agreed to the suggestion by the acting National Chairman to emplace a small committee to finalise the decisions that were taken at the meeting.
Earlier, Obaseki pleaded with the stakeholders that he was ready to “do everything to ensure that PDP remains in Edo Government house