Ahead of the September 2024 governorship election in Edo state, fears of massive defection have hit PDP as a strong member of the legacy group has got the nomination to become the running mate to APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
Some PDP faithful painted the atmospherics and the nuances of the situation in the PDP on account of the APC’s strategic gambit.
According to the report, “Honourable Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, has been tipped by leaders of the legacy group of the PDP for the Deputy Governorship slot, which Okpebholo supporters and Edo South leaders were excited over.”
The report quoted Efosa Williams, a community leader in Benin city in Oredo local government area to have said, “I can assure you, the entire legacy structure of PDP in the state will automatically collapse into APC. That is where we are going now.”
The legacy group led by Chief Dan Orbih has been embroiled in crises over the soul of PDP with Gov. Obaseki since 2020 when the party won the governorship election in the state.
Recently, the group accused the governor of imposing a candidate on the party without consultations with leaders.
The legacy group, which has apparently found solace in APC with Ogbeide-Ihama emerging as deputy governorship candidate to Senator Okpebholo, is once again out of the political code since the governor fought them to take control of the party four years ago.
Recall in November last year, former Minister of Works, a key member of the legacy group of PDP, decamped to APC where he sought to contest for the governorship seat.
His defection spoke volumes about the discomfort of the members of the legacy group of the PDP in the state.
Inside sources disclosed that the legacy group was one of the political structures frequently flapped by the Minister of FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, and for which he is highly regarded in Presidency.
Wike who is openly supporting Senator Okpebholo’s governorship bid has vowed that APC will reclaim the state in the September election.
A party leader named Jimmy Adesotu in Benin City, on Monday, said the choice of Ogbeide-Ihama was a master stroke for Senator Okpebholo.
“Ogbeide-Ihama is a household name in Oredo, Edo south and in the entire state. This combination is fantastic,” said Adesotu.
Before the arrival of Ogbeide-Ihama on the table, the APC leadership had also considered former Chairman of Oredo Local government council; Honourable Osaro Obaze and Honourable [Dennis] Idahosa, for the same position.
Obaze was one of the 14 House of Assembly members denied inauguration into the State House of Assembly by Governor Obaseki in 2019, while Idahosa lost out in the primary election to Okpebholo.
While the party is said to be working round the clock to complete the reconciliation process following the highly contested primary election, inside sources said the political solution being adopted was already yielding result.
“I am aware that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole hugged my leader yesterday [Monday] at the hallow chambers. That’s the spirit of sportsmanship which Oshiomhole has always canvassed,” the source stated.