Nine Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Edo State have declared their intention to take legal action against the party if their concerns stemming from the February 22, 2024, governorship primary are not addressed.
The aggrieved aspirants chose to boycott both the ward congress that took place on February 4 and the local delegates congress held on February 10, across the 192 wards and 17 local government areas of the state.
Notably, the congress in Etsako Central Local Government Area was canceled due to the alleged kidnapping of electoral officials en route to the event.
Earlier, the nine aspirants had filed a petition with the party’s appeal panel regarding the composition of the officials appointed to oversee the ward delegates congress in the state.
The aggrieved aspirants include Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Martin Uhomoibhi, Hajia Hadizat Umoru, Omosede Igbinedion, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, and Arthur Esene.
Aslem Ojezua, speaking on behalf of the group, emphasized that their decision to skip the local government congress was due to the utilization of products from the disputed ward congress. He mentioned their approach to the national leadership’s appeal panel, seeking to rectify the purportedly flawed process.
Ojezua stated, “If you build on a failed foundation, the result will still be faulty in the end… We will take whatever steps available to us but at the moment we have an internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party.”
He further urged their supporters and party members to remain composed, assuring them that they would address the issue in due course.
The aggrieved aspirants indicated their willingness to exhaust internal resolution mechanisms before considering legal action to safeguard their rights.
