We are not boycotting Edo LG polls – PDP

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disassociated itself from the statement made by Okharedia Ihimekpen  that the party would boycott the April 20 local government election in the state, asserting that contrary to Ihemekpen’s comment the party has concluded plans to participate in the poll.

Reacting to the comment made in some national dailies by Ihimekpen, who is the party’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP,  Mr. Matthew Urhoghide, disclosed that the party was not happy that it was not invited in the recent meeting called by the state Independent National Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), but said however that it had instructed interested candidates from the party to go ahead with the election.

“Ihimekpen’s  office is no longer in existence. He has no powers to speak on behalf of the party and he has been warned in the past to desist from such attitude. The truth is that as the biggest party in the country and the state, we cannot afford not to participate in any election,”Urhoghide stated.

“We are in the process of rebuilding the party and we don’t want distractions from anybody. In fact, the State Working Committee met recently and it was decided that we are participating in the election. It is unthinkable for any one to talk about boycott. Ihimekpen may be saying his personal opinion but not the opinion of the party”.