Major blow hits Edo PDP as spokesman Osa-Ogbegie dumps party

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State suffered a significant setback Thursday night as its spokesman, Daniel Osa-Ogbegie, announced his resignation from the party and declared support for Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration.

In a lengthy statement, Osa-Ogbegie cited the opposition’s failure to organize itself coherently and the absence of credible aspirants on the PDP platform as key factors driving his decision to step aside after careful reflection and consultations with family, friends, and political associates.

“Politics, in its highest form, must remain a vehicle for service to the people,” Osa-Ogbegie wrote.

“When circumstances arise that require a reassessment of one’s political platform in order to continue contributing meaningfully to the development of society, leadership demands the courage to make that decision.”

The former spokesman did not mince words about the state of Nigeria’s opposition landscape, offering a damning assessment that extended beyond his former party.

“The opposition space in the country has, regrettably, struggled to organise itself with the clarity, cohesion and forward momentum required to offer the kind of structured political alternative that strengthens democracy,” he stated.

Osa-Ogbegie pointed to a more immediate concern driving his departure: the apparent vacuum in opposition ranks ahead of upcoming political contests.

“Even more concerning is the reality that, with only a few weeks to the close of party nominations, there has been no visible expression of interest by credible aspirants on the platform of the PDP, nor indeed on the platforms of other opposition parties,” he revealed.

“This development compels sober reflection from all of us who believe in the necessity of purposeful political engagement.”

The former PDP spokesman disclosed his longstanding personal connection to Governor Okpebholo, describing him as “a friend and a brother” whose success, he argued, is synonymous with Edo State’s progress.

“His Excellency, Monday Okpebholo, is not a stranger to me. He is a friend, a brother. And I have come to the firm belief that if he succeeds, Edo succeeds. And when Edo succeeds, we all succeed,” Osa-Ogbegie said.

His statement framed the defection not as political opportunism but as a principled choice in the service of broader public interest.

“Political platforms may change, but the ultimate duty of leadership must always remain constant: to act in ways that advance the common good of our people,” he added..

“For in the final analysis, the triumph that truly matters is not the victory of one party over another, but the victory of Edo State itself. Generations yet unborn will not ask which party we served. They will ask whether, when the moment demanded courage, we chose the path that allowed Edo to rise,” he wrote.

“For in the end, politics is fleeting, but the destiny of a people endures. If by this decision Edo moves one step closer to stability, progress and dignity, then the choice would have been worth making.”

The defection deals a fresh blow to the Edo PDP, which has faced internal turmoil since losing the governorship election to Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The party has struggled to maintain cohesion in opposition, with factions emerging over leadership and strategy.