Edebiri, Edo PDP aspirant, dumps party

Solomon Edebiri, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant in the June 20 party primary election, has announced his resignation from the party.

Edebiri made the disclosure on Thursday while speaking with reporters in Obayanton, near Benin.

He attributed his decision to leave the party to “dishonesty of the party leadership”, describing the primary as “awful and a complete negation of what democratic tenet is all about”.

“I can officially tell you that I have resigned my membership of the PDP and that I have also refused to join either the Sherrif faction or any other party,” he said.

“My resignation followed the dishonesty of the party leadership who reneged on its pledge to provide a level-playing field for all aspirants at the primary.

“And we had all also pledged to move with the party beyond the primary, provided the primary was free, fair and just.

“There were reports that the party’s institution gave a specific instruction to party chairmen at the local government level for members to vote for a particular aspirant, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

“So my understanding is that the primaries was not free, fair and just. I will not hold Ize-Iyamu blemish but the party leadership.

“And I neither want to fight anyone nor remain in the party.”

Edebiri also confirmed that Tony Anenih, the party’s former BoT chairman, reached out to him.

“I refused to honour the invitation to his Abuja residence because of what happened in 2012,” he said.

“In 2012, he offered me money to dump my aspiration and joined the PDP but I declined.

“In 2016, he still referred to that episode, accusing me of joining forces with Adams Oshiomhole to fight the party.

“Not knowing what he might also say after meeting with him and to keep my sanctity and integrity, I thought the best decision was to avoid meeting with him or any other leader of the party.”

Edebiri, however, said that he would continue to serve the good people of the state in other capacity through other foundations he had established to serve humanity.

“I have also told my supporters and follower to avoid money politics and ensue violence as no aspiration is worth innocent blood, ‘’ he said.

Edebiri contested the governorship seat in 2012 under the platform of the All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP) and came third.

He joined the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) after he lost the 2012 governorship ticket and was a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), before he pitched tent with the PDP in 2014.