Chaos in Edo PDP: Orbih declares war with Parallel Caretaker Committee

By Jethro Ibileke

The lingering crisis in the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened on Tuesday as the factional Zonal Leader of the party, Dan Orbih, appointed a parallel caretaker committee to oversee the party’s affairs.

Orbih also named a caretaker committee for Bayelsa State.

According to a press statement signed by the factional Zonal Publicity Secretary, Prince Etim Isong, and circulated on social media platforms, the appointments were made during the zonal working committee’s regular meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, March 22, 2025.

The statement, titled “PDP Appoints Caretaker Committee for Bayelsa and Edo States,” indicated that the committees would serve for a period of three months.

For Edo State, the newly appointed caretaker members include: Nosa Ogieva (Chairman), Sunny Okomayin (Deputy Chairman), Hillary Otsu (Secretary), Nosa Iseleomon (Vice Chairman, Edo South), Ehisota Oriakhi (Vice Chairman, Edo Central), and Richard Ehimigbai (Vice Chairman, Edo North). Others include Mrs. Tes Sorae (Woman Leader), Benjamin Ehinlebodiaye (Treasurer), Emma Akaba (Auditor), David Okojie (Organizing Secretary), Bob-Manuel Umoru (Publicity Secretary), William Umoru (Legal Adviser), Moses Izobo (Financial Secretary), and David Oreye (Youth Leader).

Isong explained that the move followed the dissolution of the State Working Committees in both Edo and Bayelsa States over alleged acts of gross misconduct.

He stated that the former executives were removed due to breaches of the party’s constitution, poor performance in the last Edo State governorship election, and their failure to manage internal crises effectively.

“The Zonal Working Committee took these decisions in the best interest of the party after a careful review of the activities of the party in both states in line with the constitution of the party as amended in 2017, particularly Articles 10 (1),(f),(g), (k), and (4) as well as Articles 26(2),(a), 27 (2)(a & b), 58 (1), (a), (c), (I), and 59 (1) (f),” he said.

Isong maintained that the move would strengthen the party’s foundation and promote effective leadership in both states.

He added: “The Zonal Chairman of the party equally emphasized the importance of unity and discipline within the party, just as he called on the newly appointed party leaders to foster the cohesion necessary for repositioning the party for future political success in both states.”

P.M. News recalls that the immediate past governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on November 8, 2024, inaugurated a 10-member caretaker committee for the PDP in the state.

Those inaugurated by Obaseki include Dr. Tony Aziegbemi (Chairman), Harrison Omagbon (Deputy Chairman), Fidel Igenegbale, Chris Nehikhare (Publicity Secretary), Tony Anenih (Jnr) (Organizing Secretary), Archbishop Anthony Okosun, Segun Saiki, Adezat Ibrahim (Woman Leader), Augustine Edosomwan, and Tenebe (Secretary).

In a swift reaction, the Obaseki-led caretaker committee, through its Publicity Secretary Chris Nehikhare, dismissed Orbih’s declaration, describing it as baseless.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City, Nehikhare said Orbih was effectively running the “APC arm of PDP” and had no legal standing to sack any party executives.

“Only the national body of our party has the authority—the constitutional power—to set up caretaker committees,” Nehikhare stated.

“It is the National Working Committee, the National Executive Committee that also organizes congresses from the ward to the state and local government to the zonal and the national convention.”

He further argued that no Congress had yet been held in the South-South zone to produce new party executives.

“What we have is the Caretaker Committee in the South South zone headed by Emmanuel Ogidi and not Dan Orbih,” Nehikhare asserted.

He concluded by alleging that Orbih had effectively crossed over to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing his frequent praises for the APC-led government in Edo State.