The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Edo State Chapter is currently dealing with a worsening internal crisis, including growing factionalism, increasing desperation, and struggles to remain politically relevant after losing the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
The party, which was once a powerful force in the state and nationally, was said to have become more divided, with leadership disputes and internal strife overshadowing its ability to form a formidable force to effectively oppose Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration.
It was learned that the party’s crisis worsened after important party members, including lawmakers and former government officials, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Hon. Sunday Ojiezele Ikpenomen, a former PDP lawmaker, is one among the defectors who cited Governor Okpebholo’s leadership as the main reason for his choice. This follows the fifth postponement of the scheduled meeting so far, which has prevented the PDP from organizing its members at the national level for the party’s National Executive Council (NEC).
The PDP’s National Secretary, Sunday Ude-Okoye, said in a statement on Sunday that the meeting, which was initially scheduled for March 13, had been postponed because of the need for more consultations and forthcoming zonal, state, local government, and ward congresses. The issue inside the PDP has deepened since Umar Damagum seized office as acting National Chairman following the court’s dismissal of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, with rising calls for his resignation.
During the 98th NEC meeting on April 18, 2024, party leaders failed to resolve several critical issues.
The situation has gotten worse as a result, impacting state and zonal chapters and creating major rifts within the National Working Committee.
The 99th NEC meeting was originally scheduled for August 15 in order to discuss outstanding issues from the 98th NEC meeting. However, the meeting was delayed indefinitely after being first rescheduled for October 24, 2024, and then again for November 28, 2024.
In response, in December 2024, the NWC was instructed by the PDP Governors’ Forum, which was chaired by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, to make sure the NEC meeting was convened by February 2025 at the latest. Adolphus Wabara, the chairman of the board of trustees, expressed concern on December 5, 2024, that the PDP members’ faith was being undermined by the ongoing delays.
To ensure the meeting was held promptly, the PDP Governors’ Forum, during their meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on January 31, proposed March 13 for the NEC meeting.
However, in a new development, the party leadership announced that after consulting with all party organs, the 99th NEC meeting has, for the fifth time, been postponed to May 15.
The statement read, “Distinguished members of the National Executive Committee may recall that after due deliberation by party leaders, stakeholders, and relevant organs of the party, the NEC meeting was scheduled to be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2025.”
“However, following emerging issues, including the need to conclude our pending zonal, state, local government, and ward congresses, as well as to allow for further consultations to ensure the smooth conduct of the meeting — especially concerning other proposed activities of our party — the NWC, after due consultation with leaders, stakeholders, and relevant organs of the party, including the Board of Trustees (BoT), the PDP Governors’ Forum, and the PDP National Assembly Caucus, hereby notifies distinguished NEC members that the 99th NEC meeting, earlier scheduled for Wednesday, March 13, 2025, has been unavoidably shifted to Thursday, May 15, 2025.”
“All NEC members should please note the change of date and be guided accordingly.”
“The NWC sincerely regrets any inconvenience this change of date may cause distinguished NEC members,” the statement said.
In Edo State, despite its declining influence, the PDP has launched a series of attacks on the current administration.
