It sounded like a bomb in the minds of many Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in Edo State, when on Tuesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), released the much awaited candidates list for the 2023 general elections.
The Edo state branch of the PDP has been characterized by a bitter internal crisis, leading to the factionalization of the party into two major groups headed by the national vice chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih and Governor Godwin Obaseki respectively.
The internal crisis had resulted in the conduct of parallel primary elections in May, 2022, by the two factions in the state. Both factions had put forward two separate lists of candidates to INEC.
The parallel primary elections had led to court charges of which the final adjudication of the case is currently pending at the supreme court.
But the list of final candidates for the 2023 general elections were released on Tuesday by the electoral body at its headquarters in Abuja. However, the courts have the overriding power over the INEC list.
A close look at the INEC list in Benin City, showed that the PDP candidates cleared for the 2023 elections were those who emerged from the congress organised by the Dan Orbih-led faction of the party.
The INEC in the list published on its notice board said its action was based on court order.
Those that made the final list of candidates for the senatorial elections are Hon. Pascal Ugbome (Edo North), Hon. Ogbeide Omoregie Ihama (Edo South) and Hon. Onolememen Michael Oziegbe, (Edo Central).
The list for the Federal House of Representatives candidates are Hon. Agbaje Emmanuel Dada Danladi for Akoko-Edo, Patrick Giwa , Owan federal constituency and Hon. Omo-Ikirodah Moses, Etsako
Others are Hon. Adams Nosa Toyaki, Egor/Ikpoba-Okha, Hon. Omogbon Lucy Izoduwa, Ovia North East/Ovia South West and Hon. Idugboe Efosa Sunny, Oredo federal constituency.
Those cleared in Edo Central are Hon. Osobase Lewis, Esan North East/Esan South East and Hon. Akhabue Felix Ehiguese, Esan Central/Esan South/Igueben.
The present situation has sent the PDP Legacy Group led by Chief Dan Orbih into celebration mode while those loyal to the camp of Governor Godwin Obaseki, are in disquiet.
In his reaction, the State Chairman of PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, who is sympathetic to the Obaseki faction, urged members of the party to remain calm and await the final supreme court decision on the matter.
But also reacting to the development, the State Deputy Chairman of the party, Harrison Omagbon, said the development has put an end to the recent presentation of certificates by the State Chairman of the party to candidates of Governor Obaseki faction of the party.
“This has put paid to what the Chairman did the other time. Some of us called the Chairman to tell him that what he was doing was ultra vires. We didn’t want to take him up because it would have amounted to contempt on his part because the matter was in court.
“Article 84(1) of the Electoral Act says that INEC shall (must) monitor all primaries and the constitution of the PDP says that the chairman of the ward is the chairman of the Congress Committee. The list of candidates they are parading, which ward chairman monitored their Congress?, he queried.
Indeed, the final curtain will be permanently closed when the supreme court gives its verdict on the Edo PDP matter. But for now, the Dan Orbih group is rejoicing while Obaseki’s loyalists are confused.
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