The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had for long been stifled by crisis. The emergence of Dan Orbih as state chairman, and his steady engagements with the Adams Oshiomhole led administration may have put the government on its toes and also paid off handsomely for the once derided party in the state.

By Gabriel Enogholase

Two contrasting factors made Edo very unpredictable for bookmakers ahead of the March 28 presidential election.

As an APC governed state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was expected to deliver the state to his party’s candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

On the other hand, being in the South- South geo-political zone where President Goodluck Jonathan hails from, there was also some sympathy to back the PDP candidate, who has been described as a “son of the soil” instead of Buhari from the north.

Oshiomhole’s stand

Unlike in 2011 when Governor Oshiomhole was believed to have tactically supported President Jonathan to win in Edo, 2015 was a different ball game. The governor, today, ranks as one of the fiercest critics of Jonathan and the PDP in general. He constantly blames the PDP for creating the mess he has been battling in the state and the woes that betide the country.

Colossal waste

The governor, more than ever before, has consistently drummed it into the ears of whoever cared to listen that the 16 years of the PDP in power in the country has been a colossal waste and misrule.

At the end of the National Assembly elections, PDP won two of the three Senatorial seats in the state, that is, Edo Central and Edo South while the APC won Edo North.

PDP’s conquests

Orbih: We have been very objective in our criticisms

The PDP also won five of the nine House of Representatives seats in the state. It clinched the two Reps seats in Edo Central and three in Edo South. The APC claimed the three seats in Edo North.

Edo State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, while commenting on what gave the PDP the leverage over the APC in the National Assembly election said: “Before the elections of March 28, PDP worked very hard and the morale of the people was very high following the presentations of candidates with good credentials for the election from the three senatorial districts. PDP was the only party that exploited its internal democracy where all its candidates emerged freely without interference from the party.”

PDP state exco’s role

He also noted that the state executive of the party led by Chief   Dan Orbih, put behind its failure in the 2012 governorship election when Governor Oshiomhole won in all the 18 local councils of the state to mobilize Edo people for the elections.

With his constant but seemingly well constructed criticisms of the Oshiomhole administration and government expenditures, Orbih was able to woo some notable politicians and supporters to the PDP fold in the never-ending political alignment and realignment in the state.

APC kingpins who worked for PDP

A major notable name who left the ACN/APC for the PDP is Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who was the coordinator of the Goodluck campaign team in Edo State. Pastor Ize-Iyamu as a political tactician and strategist worked very hard to ensure that apart from delivering Jonathan, his party won in Edo South.

The party also had the likes of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chief Anthony Anenih; Captain Hosa Okunbor, a wealthy businessman who has provided immense financial support to the party and its candidates;   a former deputy governor of the state and coordinator of the SURE-P, Lucky Imasuen and the Minister of Works, Architect Mike Onolememen. These men galvanized their support to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan won the presidential election in Edo State.

The party’s campaign, led by Orbih, covered every local council in the state. According to Nehikhare, campaigning for Jonathan and other PDP candidates, was made easier by the difficulties and challenges that have recently engulfed the Oshiomhole government.

The statement credited to the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, who said that the Bini would not vote for President Jonathan because of certain reasons he adduced almost pitched the Bini against themselves.

Some other high ranking chiefs such as the Isekhure of Benin and the Eson of Benin, Chiefs Nosa Isekhure and Amos Osunbor respectively, however, countered Esogban, warning him not to pretend as if he was speaking for the palace but himself.

Isekhure (Chief Priest) in particular, countered Esogban’s claims, saying Bini would vote for President Jonathan because the Benin Monarch had endorsed him. He made reference to the visit of the Benin Crown Prince, Eheneden Erediauwa, to the Aso Rock Villa, where the Crown Prince reportedly delivered the message of his father, saying, “President Jonathan will be given the opportunity to continue his good work.”

Miserable PDP showing in House of Assembly contest

The PDP’s impressive showing in the presidential and National Assembly elections, however, failed to replicate itself in the state House of Assembly elections as the party won only three out of the 24 seats in the state legislative election, the poorest showing ever.

Giving reasons for the failure, Nehikhare said: “At the point when the State House of Assembly election was held, there were a lot wrangling and financial inducement from the APC-led state government and they went ahead to buy over INEC, police and security agencies.”

Another he said, was the meeting by prominent   Benin sons to give the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie –Oyegun a safe landing. But beyond that was the fact that with the handwriting already written against the PDP in the presidential election, many wanted the bandwagon to just go on.