Before the September 21 Edo State governor race, the state's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) inaugurated a 363-member campaign team on Friday. Governor Goodwin Obaseki criticized the Legacy Group for being disorganized.
The Legacy group, led by the party's vice chairman, Dan Orbih, had previously stated they wouldn't cooperate with Obaseki and the party's candidate, Asue Ighodalo, unless their complaints were addressed.
They claimed they were being unfairly treated by Obaseki despite supporting his move to PDP in 2020 and helping him secure a second term.
Orbih also has the impeached deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, and Kabiru Adjoto, who was a strong ally of Obaseki until recently, in his group.
Regardless of this, Obaseki emphasized that the PDP has the best candidates and programs for the people of Edo. He mentioned that factional PDP members fighting in the party have accepted money from opposition parties to destabilize the PDP in the state. He warned those individuals to stay away or face consequences.
He remarked, "The schedule is out, have you seen any of them (Legacy Group)? Can they organize themselves? PDP is at the forefront, others follow."
“PDP is united. Those fighting PDP have been given money by other parties and are trying to betray us. Join me in flushing them out of our party. We won't allow anyone to divide us; we are one party, indivisible in Edo State.
“They have received enough money, let them go and enjoy it. Let them spend it elsewhere. We have nothing to fear. I will fight them if they challenge us; we will fight back. They know us, we don't fight and lose, let them try. They should not disturb us, because this election is ours and we will win by God's grace.”
Obaseki, stating that the opposition has no place in Edo, bragged that the PDP has assembled hardworking campaign council members who, he believes, will deliver 80 percent of the total votes to the party.
“By God's grace, this campaign council will deliver nothing less than 80 percent of the votes.
“APC has no presence here. They cannot destroy us at the center and then come and try to destroy us here. We won't allow it. There's too much hunger out there, and we are preventing it from coming to Edo.
“Everyone sees what's happening in Nigeria today. You can see the suffering in the nation. You can see the struggle in Edo, but we pulled Edo out of those problems. So, our campaign will be based on the hope we will provide the citizens of Edo State.”
He stated that the campaign council's structure was rooted in all 192 wards across the state, and every part of the party was included.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, revealed that the campaign council consisted of 363 members, not including the women and youth wings.
In his acceptance speech, the Director-General of the state campaign council, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, thanked the governor and PDP members for the chance to serve the party.
Iduoriyekemwen, however, vowed to guide the party to win in September.
The PDP governorship candidate, Barr. Asue Ighodalo, expressed gratitude to party supporters and leaders for their trust in him, and stated that Obaseki had established a strong foundation in all sectors that he plans to develop further.
