The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State conducted its Local Government Congress on Saturday, electing new executive committees and national delegates across the 18 local government areas. The exercise was monitored by the State Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, and a panel from the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, led by Hillary Okute.

At the Oredo Local Government Secretariat, members elected an 18-member executive and a national delegate in a process described as peaceful and transparent. Aziegbemi hailed the exercise as a significant step towards the party’s “rebirth” ahead of the 2027 general elections. He noted that the party had previously held successful ward congresses in all 192 wards of the state, which had been adjudged the best organized ever.

The PDP chairman expressed optimism that the momentum generated by the congresses would enable the party to remove the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from power at both the federal and state levels in 2027 and 2028. He criticized the APC, accusing it of plunging Nigerians into hardship, with over 60 million people going to bed hungry every night due to the government’s policies.

Aziegbemi assured that the forthcoming state congress, scheduled for September 27 in Benin, would be seamless and well-organized. He predicted that it would mark the consolidation of a united PDP ahead of the party’s convention in Abuja in November.

Hillary Okute, Chairman of the LGA Congress Panel, praised the exercise, noting that it was a product of careful planning, hard work, and dedication. He described the exercise as a new dawn for the PDP, adding that the decorum and spirit of brotherhood displayed during the congress would translate to higher levels, not just for Edo State but for Nigeria as a whole.

The successful conduct of the Local Government Congress is a significant step towards the PDP’s preparations for the 2027 general elections. The party’s ability to organize peaceful and transparent elections at the local level is seen as a crucial indicator of its readiness to challenge the ruling APC. As the PDP looks ahead to its state congress and national convention, the party’s leaders will be seeking to build on the momentum generated by the recent congresses to position themselves for a strong showing in the upcoming elections.