…Says Obaseki left the party bruised and battered
Chief Dan Osi Orbih, the National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the South-South zone, has voiced strong concerns over the internal crisis threatening the survival of the party. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sunday Sun in Abuja, Orbih attributed the party’s ongoing struggles to the selective application of its constitution and the self-serving actions of its key leaders.
Internal Betrayals and Leadership Failures
According to Orbih, several prominent figures within the PDP have manipulated party rules and ignored constitutional provisions to suit personal agendas, thereby weakening the party’s foundations. He emphasized that the PDP could become a formidable opposition force only if it begins to fully respect its own constitution.
“The constitution is like a Bible or Quran for party members. If we continue to ignore it, we will continue to suffer setbacks,” he said.
He criticized how the party handled transitions in leadership, especially after the exit of former National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu. Orbih explained that although the party’s constitution clearly outlines succession processes, some influential figures opposed the rightful ascension of Umar Damagum, the Deputy National Chairman (North), simply because it didn’t suit their interests.
Obaseki’s Entry and the Fallout in Edo
Speaking on the political crisis in Edo State, Orbih did not mince words. He accused former Governor Godwin Obaseki of severely damaging both the PDP and the state during his tenure.
“Obaseki fought everyone but himself,” Orbih said. “He joined the PDP under questionable circumstances, was handed the party’s ticket through backdoor arrangements, and left the party in ruins.”
Orbih distanced himself from Obaseki’s entry into the PDP, clarifying that while he led Obaseki’s re-election campaign out of loyalty to the party, he was not among those who facilitated his admission into the party.
He recounted how Obaseki’s deputy, Philip Shaibu, once accused the governor of deceiving him and allegedly collecting $300,000 under the pretext of distributing it to party leaders, including Orbih. During a reconciliation meeting attended by several PDP governors, Obaseki reportedly denied the allegation, leading to one of the most embarrassing moments Orbih says he has ever witnessed.
“Obaseki left Edo PDP and governance itself bruised and battered. His era was a tale of woes,” he added.
On Asue Ighodalo and the 2024 Election
Orbih also criticized the process that produced Asue Ighodalo as the PDP’s 2024 governorship candidate in Edo, calling it faulty and undemocratic. He said he had never seen Ighodalo at any party event before his sudden emergence as a candidate and lamented the influence of Governor Obaseki in imposing him on the party.
“Obaseki claimed he registered 500,000 new PDP members, sidelining legacy members of the party. But during the election, the reality of the numbers proved him wrong. He ended up isolated and politically humiliated,” Orbih noted.
Decline of PDP in Edo State
Reflecting on the state of the PDP in Edo, Orbih described a party that once had strong representation—including two senators and a majority in the House of Representatives—but has now lost nearly everything.
“Today, we have no governor, no senators, and only one out of nine House of Reps seats—secured after a rerun. We traded process for power, and now we have neither,” he lamented.
Party-Wide Implications and Call for Reform
Orbih stressed that unless the PDP returns to upholding its constitution and integrity, it risks total collapse. He called for introspection and accountability among party leaders and rejected any attempts to pin the party’s downfall on legacy figures like himself.
“It’s time for the PDP to choose between playing by the rules or continuing on this path of self-destruction,” he warned
