BY IDAHOSA MUSA
The internal crisis plaguing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has taken another turn, as Chief Dan Orbih, the National Vice Chairman of the party for the South South region, on Wednesday, inaugurated a new secretariat for the state chapter. The new office, situated along Airport Road directly opposite the Benin airport in Benin City, is being described by party observers as a parallel secretariat, further deepening the divisions within the party.
Chief Orbih explained that his decision to donate the building followed numerous appeals from members of the party who had expressed their frustrations over the PDP’s lack of a central office in the state.
According to him, the party had been left without a secretariat since its former premises were reclaimed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) earlier in the year.
“A few weeks ago, during one of our meetings, I pledged to provide a new secretariat for the party,” he said during the inauguration ceremony.
‘You and I know that the PDP cannot be a homeless party. On 17 January 2025, our former State Chairman was ejected from our old office on Airport Road, and since then, the PDP in Edo State has had no central location.
Many leaders and members of our party have reached out to me, expressing their disappointment and concern over that sad development.”
Orbih said the decision to open the new office on the day of the Christian celebration of Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem was symbolic, describing it as a day to mark the triumphant return of the PDP’s organisational structure in the state.
“We are putting an end to that unfortunate chapter where the PDP had no state secretariat for four months,” he declared.
He also used the occasion to send a pointed message to the Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, warning him against any attempt to interfere with the newly inaugurated office. “If he dares to come here, he must be ready to declare for the PDP,” Orbih said.
Addressing recent statements attributed to individuals claiming to be the acting secretary and acting press secretary of the PDP in the state, Orbih dismissed them as illegitimate.
“As the National Vice Chairman, South South, I want to state clearly that these individuals have no standing in the PDP. From this moment forward, we will no longer entertain statements from anyone outside those who are officially designated to manage the party in Edo State,” he said.
Orbih blamed the immediate past state administration for what he described as the near-collapse of the PDP’s influence in Edo. He lamented the party’s dwindling political fortunes, recalling that it once held two senatorial seats and a majority in the House of Representatives.
“Now, we have no senator, only one member in the House of Representatives, and even the governorship has slipped into the hands of the APC,” he said regretfully.
He called on all loyal and genuine members of the party to put the past behind them and work together to rebuild. “We must look to the future with hope. I am ready to collaborate with members who believe this party must not die, who are committed to working together for the progress and development of Edo State.”
