The People’s Democratic Party has appointed Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Emmanuel Enoidem, as Chairman and Secretary respectively, of an 11-member committee tasked with reconciling all aggrieved members ahead of the September 21 Edo State governorship election.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, along with their supporters, have been in disagreement over who will be the PDP’s candidate.
Consequently, two contenders, Shaibu and Obaseki’s favoured candidate, Asue Ighodalo, emerged as the governorship candidates for the 2024 Edo elections following primaries held on February 22, 2023.
This deepened the division within the Edo State Chapter of the party.
The PDP National Working Committee presented Ighodalo with the Certificate of Return on Tuesday, while Shaibu, on Wednesday, visited the party’s national headquarters in Abuja and threatened legal action, asserting himself as the genuine candidate.
In its effort to reduce the tension, the PDP National Working Committee, in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution, constituted the Edo State post-primary election reconciliation committee.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, explaining that the committee is tasked with reconciling all critical stakeholders and party members in Edo State ahead of the governorship election.
According to the statement, the PDP also appointed Jacob Otorkpa as the Administrative Secretary of the committee.
Other members of the committee include former Governor of Kaduna State and Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi; former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson; former Akwa Ibom State Military Administrator, Tunde Ogheha; Senator Mrs. Stella Omu; Dr. Esther Uduehi; Senator Olalere Oyewunmi; Professor Sandy Onor; and Alhaji Isiaka Sola Gold.
The statement read in part, “The NWC urges all critical stakeholders and members of our great Party in Edo State to remain steadfast and continue to work hard for the success of our party and governorship candidate, Dr. Asuerinme Ighodalo, in the September 21, 2024 Governorship Election in Edo State.”
