Edo guber: PDP suspends Orbih, south-south vice-chair, over ‘anti-party activities’

The national working committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended Dan Orbih, its national vice-chairman (south-south).

In a statement on Wednesday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP national publicity secretary, said Orbih was suspended over his comments against Asue Ighodalo, the party’s candidate in the forthcoming Edo governorship election.

In May, Orbih kicked against Ighodalo’s candidacy, insisting that the people of the state would only vote for someone who would give them a sense of belonging.

“With all that is before us today, it is not about the PDP, APC, or Labour Party. What is before us is the future of Edo State,” Orhib had said.

“Whoever will address the problems of our people and give our people a strong sense of belonging is the person we are going to vote for. Let us pray to God to give us the wisdom and direction we must go. We cannot be fooled a second time.”

The Edo chapter of the PDP has been dealing with an internal crisis since the governorship primary election in February, which produced Ighodalo as its candidate.

Some aggrieved members of the party had approached the court after the primary.

A federal high court in Abuja invalidated the PDP primary election that produced Ighodalo as its flagbearer.

On Wednesday, Ologunagba said Orbih’s actions and comments regarding the governorship primary election were not “in line with the party’s constitution.”

He said the NWC has established a six-member committee, led by Taofeek Arapaja, its deputy national chairman (south), to investigate Orbih.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 588th meeting today, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, considered all issues, including complaints on the activities of the National Vice Chairman (South-South) Chief Dan Orbih concerning the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State,” the statement reads.

“The NWC at the meeting unanimously condemned the embarrassing actions and utterances of Chief Dan Orbih relating to the Edo State Governorship Primary Election of our great party, which actions and utterances are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and the demand of his office as a national officer of the party.

“Consequently, the NWC has set up a six-member committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman (south) Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, to investigate the issue under the provisions of the Constitution of the Party.

“In the meantime, the NWC forthwith suspends Chief Dan Orbih from participating in all meetings, activities, and programmes of the NWC pending the conclusion of an investigation by the Committee.”

BACKGROUND

On June 19, the PDP in Edo expelled Orbih, Philip Shaibu, a former deputy governor of the state and Omorgie Ihama, an ex-member of the house of representatives, who represented the Oredo federal constituency.

Ogie Vasco, the PDP spokesperson in Edo, said Shaibu, Orbih, and Ihama were expelled over alleged anti-party activities.

Vasco said the SWC decided on the suspension after it “extensively deliberated on the issue,”  adding that the sanction was with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, Orbih rejected his suspension, saying it did not follow due process.

“When a group of persons sit down to make pronouncements that are unconstitutional, it only shows that they are ignorant of the constitution of the party,” Orbih told journalists.