Edo PDP Crisis Deepens as Legacy Group Elects New Leaders

The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a significant step towards reconciling its internal crisis with the election of a new state working committee. The faction aligned with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, known as the Legacy Group, held its 2025 State Congress in Benin City, where Barrister Nosa Ogieva emerged as the new chairman alongside 13 other executive members.

The newly elected leadership has vowed to reunite party members and restore the PDP’s winning strength in the state. Out of the 14 positions filled, 11 candidates were returned unopposed, while three positions were contested. A total of 576 delegates from the 192 wards across Edo State participated in the congress. In his acceptance speech, Chairman Ogieva described their victory as the beginning of a new era for the Edo PDP, pledging to reposition and rebrand the party.

Ogieva assured members that his leadership would remain loyal and accountable, stating that unity and loyalty are the foundation of the party. He emphasized that the party will be rebuilt to win elections again under his watch. Prior to the election, party chieftain Chief Dan Orbih attributed the lingering internal crisis to former Governor Godwin Obaseki, accusing him of having fallen out with virtually every stakeholder he met in the PDP.

Orbih noted that the party’s poor performance in recent by-elections reflects its dwindling popularity under the current state leadership. He urged delegates to elect capable leaders who could revive the PDP and restore its influence in Edo State. The election of the new state working committee marks a significant development in the efforts to address the internal crisis within the Edo State chapter of the PDP. As the party moves forward, the newly elected leadership will face the challenge of reconciling party members and restoring the PDP’s winning strength in the state.