The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the formation of a caretaker committee by the faction led by Chief Dan Orbih from the South-South Zonal Working Committee. They assert that only the National Working Committee of the party has the authority to disband any executive council.
The South-South Zonal Working Committee, under Dan Orbih’s leadership, announced the establishment of caretaker committees for Edo and Bayelsa states in a statement released on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
In response, the caretaker committee led by Dr. Tony Aziegbemi in Edo State argued that Chief Dan Orbih does not have the power to dissolve any state executive council of the party.
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Hon. Chris Nehikhare, the publicity secretary for Dr. Tony Aziegbemi’s faction in the state, stated that Dan Orbih’s remarks lack legitimacy.
Nehikhare claimed that Orbih is effectively managing the All Progressives Congress (APC) faction within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“Only the national leadership of our party has the constitutional authority to establish caretaker committees,” he asserted.
“It is the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee that organize congresses at all levels, from the ward to the state, local government, zonal, and national conventions.”
He emphasized that the Caretaker Committee in the South-South zone is led by Emmanuel Ogidi, not Dan Orbih.
Nehikhare also pointed out that the party has not yet held its congress in the South-South zone to elect new party executives.
He accused Orbih of aligning with the APC, particularly after Orbih’s unsolicited praise for the APC-led government in Edo State.
Nehikhare dismissed the statements made by Orbih and his supporters regarding discontent.
He remarked, “The responsibility of establishing a caretaker committee for a party in any state lies with the national working committee, not the zonal working committee.
“The term of Chief Dan Orbih as chairman of the PDP’s zonal working committee in the South-South zone has ended, so it’s troubling that some still refer to him as the zone’s chairman.
“He (Orbih) is no longer the chairman of the zone and has been expelled from the party.”
