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The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has inaugurated members of the Caretaker Committee, established by the party’s National Working Committee to manage the party’s affairs pending the election of new executives.
The committee is chaired by Dr Tony Aziegbemi, with Hon. Henry Duke Tenebe as Secretary.
Other members of the caretaker committee include Harrison Omagbon, Fidel Igenegbale, Chris Nehikhare, Tony Anenih Jnr, Anthony Okosun, Segun Saiki, Adezat Kuburat Ibrahim, and Augustine Edosomwan.
The committee, established pursuant to Section 29(2)(b) of the PDP’s Constitution (2017 as amended), has the responsibility of managing the party’s affairs in the state, as stipulated in Section 21(2)(a-b) of the party’s Constitution, for a period not exceeding 90 days (three months) or until a new Executive Committee is elected.
Speaking at the inauguration at the PDP Secretariat in Benin City on Friday, the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, expressed confidence that the party would reclaim its mandate, which he alleged was stolen by the All Progressives Congress during the 21 September governorship poll.
Addressing party leaders, local government chairmen, chieftains, and other stakeholders, Obaseki called for unity and cohesion as the party seeks to reclaim its mandate through judicial processes.
He said, “We want a cohesive party as we fight for our stolen mandate, and I am confident we will retrieve it. Our mandate was stolen in broad daylight; everyone saw it. We have evidence to show how our mandate was taken, and by the grace of God, we will recover it. They cannot simply walk away with this stolen mandate. We have procedures in government; they stole our mandate, yes, but there are laws and ways to address this. We are inaugurating a new government in Edo State, yet the Edo State Government is not involved.
“People act as though there are no laws, forgetting that we are guided by the constitution and legal procedures. They are planning an inauguration, and the governor is not even invited. It seems as if they are establishing a brand new government and a brand new state. There is widespread illegality, but we must be patient as our democracy must prevail. We know how they took our mandate, we have evidence, but let’s see how they manage this.”
“Our people came out to vote for our party; we are challenging the results, and we know victory will be ours. Let us fulfil our responsibilities as politicians. We know these people are adept at lying and deception. We need to be vocal and not allow their lies to dominate. The tribunal hearings will commence in December, and we want people to stay alert.
Their questions show they are interested. The most crucial thing we need now is harmony in the party, and we need to communicate with our people more.
“The party must stay in contact with local government chairmen on a weekly basis. The party must also be in contact with House of Assembly members to keep the people informed. During this holiday period, they may try to spend as much money as possible to sway public opinion. They will struggle to change their perception. We have almost N27 billion allocated for projects and obligations, but they have already started spending, borrowing between N2 and N5 billion for the inauguration. That is the first amount they will withdraw from the treasury.”
The governor assured the people that he would remain close to the party, promising never to leave but to continue advising.
He added, “This mandate, which was stolen from us, we will reclaim it for the sake of Nigeria, because if we allow the APC to retain our stolen mandate, it could spell the end of democracy in Nigeria. This fight is not just for our candidate but for the people of Nigeria and our democracy.”
On his part, the party’s candidate in the 21 September governorship poll, Asue Ighodalo, urged the party to prepare for a tough battle in the journey to reclaim their stolen mandate.
Ighodalo thanked the governor for his focus and determination in leading the people effectively, urging everyone to remain committed to reclaiming their stolen mandate.
He stated, “We expect them to respond to our petition next week. We also have five days to respond to theirs. This will take us to about 19 November 2024. We will then proceed to the pre-hearing phase before the main hearings, which may start by the end of November.
“Our lawyers are working and are prepared to respond to their petition. Times are tough, and we are facing challenging circumstances; we must stand firm and strong as we navigate this journey to reclaim our stolen mandate.”
