The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), currently under the control of a caretaker committee led by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, has strongly condemned a recent move by Chief Dan Orbih, who announced the donation of a new party secretariat in Benin City. The committee described the gesture as a calculated ploy designed to sow division and confusion within the party ahead of critical political engagements in the state.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Thursday, the Aziegbemi-led caretaker committee dismissed Orbih’s claim to any authority within the party, asserting that the former South-South Zonal Chairman of the PDP ceased to be a member of the party following the expiration of his tenure on March 9, 2025. The committee maintained that Orbih’s latest actions have no bearing on the PDP and accused him of aligning with the opposition to destabilise its structure in Edo State.“We are compelled to respond to the Nollywood-style theatrics orchestrated on Wednesday 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,” the statement read. “Let it be made abundantly clear that Chief Dan Orbih is no longer a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. He lacks the authority and standing to rent, donate, or assign any property to the Edo PDP.”
The controversy arose after Orbih, during the unveiling of the purported secretariat in Benin City, issued a stern warning to the caretaker committee, urging them to stop identifying themselves as PDP leaders in Edo. He alleged that the committee was acting in concert with former Governor Godwin Obaseki to destroy the party from within—a claim the caretaker leadership swiftly dismissed as baseless and malicious.
Dr. Aziegbemi further alleged that the building presented as the new PDP secretariat was not in any way affiliated with the party. Instead, he claimed the property belonged to elements within the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing Orbih of acting on behalf of the opposition and working directly for the APC-led government in Edo State.“The so-called secretariat he claimed to have donated is a facade. It belongs to the party he now openly serves—the APC-led government in Edo State—where he is nothing more than a political employee,” the statement alleged.
The caretaker committee reaffirmed that the South-South Zonal leadership of the PDP has since been taken over by Chief Emma Ogidi, who now oversees the party’s affairs in the region. It described Orbih’s continued interference as an act of desperation aimed at creating confusion and disunity among loyal party members.“This is a desperate attempt to distract, disrupt, and destabilise the Edo PDP. But we remain resolute,” Aziegbemi stated. “We urge all loyal PDP members to remain focused on the task ahead and not allow themselves to be distracted by the antics of Dan Orbih.”The committee assured party faithful that the PDP in Edo remains unified under its current leadership and fully committed to reclaiming its mandate in the state. With internal restructuring underway and strategic mobilisation across wards and local councils, the leadership said the party is more determined than ever to maintain its relevance and integrity.
As the political landscape in Edo State continues to shift in anticipation of the next electoral cycle, the unfolding drama within the PDP may prove crucial in determining the direction of its internal cohesion and external appeal to the electorate.