The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has indefinitely postponed its state congress following a deepening internal crisis over the authenticity of the party’s voters’ register. The dispute has factionalized the party, with disagreement over the congress mode—direct versus indirect—paralyzing the scheduled proceedings.
The congress, set to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, was delayed until approximately 2:00 p.m. before Yakubu Paul, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, announced the postponement. Paul stated the decision followed consultations with the party’s National Secretariat, which approved the delay to allow for proper preparation. He noted that prerequisite ward and local government congresses, meant to elect delegates for the state congress, were not conducted.
A核心 point of contention is the size of the registered electorate. A faction aligned with incumbent State Chairman Dr. Greg Igbinomwanya insists only 344 individuals on the party’s register should vote. This group’s spokesperson, Adams Erunmwunse, alleged the leadership had lost credibility and that Igbinomwanya sought to manipulate the process to retain office. “Greg never wanted this congress to hold because his tenure ended in 2024; hence he came up with a retrogressive register of just 344 members,” Erunmwunse claimed.
Conversely, the faction supporting Electoral Committee Chairman Yakubu Paul rejects the 344-member register, alleging it was manipulated. Paul’s camp contends that legitimate members were excluded while unverified names were included.
Dr. Igbinomwanya dismissed the allegations, affirming the register’s authenticity. He counter-alleged that some individuals were sponsored to obtain membership cards on the congress morning solely to participate but failed to do so.
The postponement leaves the Edo PRP’s leadership transition in limbo, highlighting unresolved internal strife that could impact the party’s cohesion and electoral preparedness in the state. The National Secretariat’s next steps toward resolving the register dispute and rescheduling the congress remain unclear.
