The crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, continues unabated as two chieftains of the party are at war over the endorsement of Asue Ighodalo as the candidate of the party ahead of the February 22, 2024, governorship primary election in the state.
Owere Dickson Imasogie, on Wednesday in Benin City on behalf of the Edo South Senatorial District, endorsed Asue Ighodalo as the party’s candidate.
He announced the endorsement during the aspirant’s official declaration of interest to contest the governorship election, saying: “I have endorsed him (Asue Ighodalo) as the PDP candidate for the September 21, 2024 governorship election. And I will take the message back to my people.”
However, hours after the endorsement, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, a chieftain of the party in the senatorial district, described the action of Imasogie as null and void.
Omo-Ojo, a former two-time commissioner in Adams Oshiomhole’s administration, in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin, said: “The former Chairman of Edo South Senatorial District, Owere Dickson Imasogie, is free to endorse any aspirant but not to speak on behalf of Edo South leaders.
“It must be noted that what Owere Dickson Imasogie said at a recent declaration of interest rally organised by a PDP aspirant has nothing to do with the corporate interests of Bini of Edo South Senatorial District.
“Imasogie has a constitutional right to stand with any aspirant of his choice, but he should note that he is not an officer of the party. As such, he has not spoken on behalf of Edo South leaders, but perhaps his household.”
He continued: “For the information of Edo people, Owere Dickson Imasogie is not the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo South and, as such, can only speak for himself and some of his followers, as he has done.
“The Edo South Senatorial Chairman remains Nosa Ogieva-Okunbor, who has the authority of leaders from the seven local government areas in the South, to speak for our collective interests.
“The general public should please be mindful of statements in the manner in which Owere Dickson Imasogie has spoken. Such is capable of polarising the PDP, which needs healing at this time.”
