The internal crisis over the leadership struggle of who leads the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Edo State has defied all solution, leading to the latest a court ruling that may temporarily stop the planned Local Government election in Edo State.
Late Tuesday afternoon, April 5, 2022, the group that called itself, ‘legacy’ PDP, led by the party’s Deputy National Chairman, South-South, Chief Dan Osi Orbih got a reprieve to stop the election that would have elected 193 councilors and 18 council chairmen to administer the local government areas that has remained under lock over a year.
Earlier in the day, there were celebrations by the group members, over their alleged conclusion of primaries that was conducted in undisclosed venues, which was sequel to a notice signed by the secretary of the party, Mr. Hilary Otsu.
Otsu had informed the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC that his faction was ready to conduct their primaries on April 2, 2022. Following his communications with EDSIEC, there were also unverified reports that the ‘legacy’ faction had printed nomination forms and were secretly selling same. This claim was however denied by a member of the State Working Committee, loyal to Orbih.
The ranging development, no doubt, may have negative impact on the fortunes of PDP in both the State, and National Assembly elections, slated for early 2023.