By Jethro Ibileke
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Dr Tony Aziegbemi, has stated that a factional leader of the party, Chief Dan Orbib, is no more a member of the party, but a political employee of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Aziegbemi who stated this in response to the secretariat building recently donated to the State chapter of the PDP by Orbih, described the alleged secretariat donation as a facade, noting that the building in question actually belongs to the APC.
It would be recalled that Orbih on Wednesday announced the donation of the campaign office of the former Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu, as secretariat to the PDP. Philip Shaibu himself has since defected to the APC.
Orbih’s donation was sequel to that the forceful takeover of the PDP’s secretariat building located along Airport Road, by the State Acting Chairman of the APC, Jarret Tenebe, on January 17, 2025, when he chased the Dr Tony Aziegbemi-led faction of the building.
Aziegbemi and his Committee has since been operating from a hotel located in the GRA.
But, responding in a statement on Thursday, Aziegbemi said Orbih lacks the authority and standing to rent, donate, or assign any property to the Edo PDP.
He said: “We are compelled to respond to the Nollywood-style theatrics orchestrated yesterday by Chief Dan Orbih, only because of the numerous calls and inquiries we have received from concerned party members, the media, and the good people of Edo State.
“Let it be made abundantly clear: Chief Dan Orbih is no longer a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He lacks the authority and standing to rent, donate, or assign any property to the Edo PDP.
“The so-called secretariat he claims to have donated is a facade—it belongs to the party he now openly serves, the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in Edo State, where he is nothing more than a political employee.
“Chief Orbih’s tenure as the South-South Zonal Chairman of the PDP officially ended on March 9, 2025. A duly constituted Caretaker Committee, ably led by Chief Emma Ogidi, has since taken over the affairs of the zone.
“It is evident that Chief Orbih’s latest drama is a desperate attempt to distract, disrupt, and destabilize the Edo PDP. His record of notoriety is well documented, and as such, we refuse to dignify his antics with undue attention.
“We urge PDP members to disregard the antics of Dan Orbih and not be distracted.
Reclaiming our mandate remains our focus.”
Aziegbemi insisted that the Edo PDP Caretaker Committee remains united, focused, and fully in charge of the party’s affairs.
